A specific enzyme defect in gout associated with overproduction of uric acid.

Abstract
A partial deficiency of the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase was demonstrated in 5 members of 2 families having gout associated with overproduction of uric acid. The molecular alteration leading to the decreased activity of this enzyme appears to be different in each family. The mutant enzymes of the 2 families differ in their relative activity for each of the natural purine substrates as well as in their heat stability.