Application of dHPLC for mutation detection of the fibrillin-1 gene for the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome in a National Health Service Laboratory

Genet Test. 2007 Summer;11(2):146-52. doi: 10.1089/gte.2006.0514.

Abstract

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene FBN1. Mutation detection of this 65-exon gene presents a particular challenge for the diagnostic service in cost, time constraints, and the need to maintain a stringently optimized assay procedure. Using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC), we have designed a procedure for rapid mutation scanning, redesigning 50% of published primer sets, screening by Ensembl to avoid inclusion of polymorphic variations and employing a limited set of PCR conditions to allow for a high-throughput 96-well format. We have screened 262 unrelated patients with MFS or Marfan-like phenotypes and detected 103 (39.3%) mutations including 93 different mutations, 72 of which are novel. The mutations include 55 missense (53.4%) 19 splice site (18.5%), 17 frameshift (16.5%), 11 nonsense (10.7%) and 1 in-frame deletion/insertion.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / isolation & purification
  • DNA Primers
  • England
  • Exons
  • Fibrillin-1
  • Fibrillins
  • Humans
  • Marfan Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Marfan Syndrome / genetics*
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics*
  • Mutation*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Deletion
  • State Medicine

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • FBN1 protein, human
  • Fibrillin-1
  • Fibrillins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • DNA