Detection of mutations in the apolipoprotein CII gene by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Identification of the splice site variant apolipoprotein CII-Hamburg in a patient with severe hypertriglyceridemia

¹ Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Albert Ludwigs-University, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.

² Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, 5000 Odense, Denmark.

³ Department of Pediatrics, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.

⁴ Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0131.

⁵ Lipid Research and Atherosclerosis Center, Institute of Internal Medicine and Geriatry, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

⁶ Klinisch-Chemisches Zentrallabor der Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
^a Address correspondence to this author at: Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg i. Br., Germany. Fax 49-761-270 3444; e-mail msnauck{at}mzl200.ukl.uni-freiburg.de.

Familial apolipoprotein (apo) CII deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism clinically resembling lipoprotein lipase deficiency. A number of mutations of the apo CII gene are known to date; they are located in the promoter region, the coding exons, or in the splice junctions. We present a simple assay based on PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, which allows scanning of the promoter, the entire coding sequence, and the splice junctions of the apo CII gene for sequence variants. All gene fragments are amplified using a common PCR protocol and are examined for mutations on a single gradient gel. Using this method and direct sequencing, we identified homozygosity for a donor splice-site mutation in the second intron, previously designated apo CII-Hamburg, as the genetic cause of apo CII deficiency in a 9-year-old boy presenting with chylomicronemia, eruptive xanthoma, and pancreatitis. In addition, the method allowed us to detect all of six different other known mutations of the apo CII gene. We conclude, therefore, that our assay is highly sensitive; in addition, it is easy to perform and may facilitate the differential diagnosis of disorders of lipoprotein metabolism at the genetic level.

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