This gene encodes a mitochondrial enzyme that belongs to the amidinotransferase family. This enzyme is involved in creatine biosynthesis, whereby it catalyzes the transfer of a guanido group from L-arginine to glycine, resulting in guanidinoacetic acid, the immediate precursor of creatine. Mutations in this gene cause arginine:glycine amidinotransferase deficiency, an inborn error of creatine synthesis characterized by cognitive disability, language impairment, and behavioral disorders. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Forensic Context
A study in humans using post-mortem tissue RNA sequencing demonstrated that the GATM gene, involved in amino acid metabolism, was downregulated in the hippocampus and kidney of sepsis patients compared to uninfected controls [Pinheiro da Silva et al. DOI:10.1111/jcmm.17938].