|
|
||||||||
Articles |
1
Establissement Francais du Sang-Bretagne,
2
Université de Bretagne Occidentale, and
3
Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, INSERM (EMI-01 15), 46 Rue Félix Le Dantec, 29200 Brest, France.
aAddress correspondence to this author at: EFS-Bretagne, 46 Rue Félix Le Dantec, 29200 Brest, France. E-mail gerald.legac{at}univ-brest.fr.
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Methods: Analytical conditions for each coding exon were determined by a combination of computer melting profile predictions and experimental melting curves. To test accuracy for scanning the complete HFE coding region and optimize DHPLC running conditions, each melting domain was investigated with at least one mutation or one polymorphism as reference. We tested 100 DNA samples harboring the C282Y, H63D, or S65C mutations and 17 artificially created positive controls that carried either 1 of the 14 other known HFE mutations or 3 selected polymorphisms.
Results: Investigations on each of the coding exons 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 could be performed at one analysis temperature. Coding exon 3 displayed a more complex melting profile and required two analysis temperatures. DHPLC detected all known HFE mutations as well as the three selected polymorphisms.
Conclusions: DHPLC can be used to scan the HFE gene in HC probands in whom at least one chromosome lacks an assigned mutation.
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
1 in 300 in Caucasians of Northern European descent (2)(3). HC is an adult-onset disease characterized by increased duodenal iron absorption, which leads to progressive iron loading of parenchymal cells in major organs, primarily the liver, pancreas, and heart. In the final stages, the structure and function of these organs are affected. When diagnosis is made before irreversible tissue damage occurs, regular removal of excess iron by phlebotomy usually leads to a normal life expectancy (4).
An important hurdle in diagnosis of HC and detection of asymptomatic patients was cleared in 1996, when the gene for HC (HFE gene) was cloned and two causative mutations were reported: the 845G
A transition, which changes amino acid 282 from cysteine to tyrosine (C282Y); and the 187C
G transversion, which changes amino acid 63 from histidine to aspartic acid (H63D) (5). Several studies of Caucasian populations have concluded that at least 80% of HC probands are homozygous for the C282Y mutation and that 47% are C282Y/H63D compound heterozygotes (5)(6)(7)(8)(9).
Numerous techniques are available to detect these two common HFE mutations (5)(6)(8)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). However, depending on the population studied, 435% of cases presenting with the HC phenotype are C282Y or H63D heterozygotes or lack both C282Y and H63D (5)(7)(8)(9)(16)(17). The HFE coding region from some of these HC probands has been studied, and nine novel mutations have been described: four missense mutations (S65C, I105T, G93R, and R330M) (18)(19)(20), two frameshift mutations (V68delT and P160delC) (21)(22), two nonsense mutations (E168X and W169X) (23), and one splice site mutation (IVS3+1G
T) (24). Six of the mutations (I105T, G93R, R330M, V68delT, P160delC, and IVS3+1G
T) are private, i.e., they were observed in either individual families or in individual probands, and the three others are rare, i.e., they were found to be significantly enriched in the chromosomes of HC probands from Brittany (S65C) or from two northern Italian regions (E168X and W169X) (18)(23). Moreover, one HFE missense mutation (Q127H) has been described in a South African patient referred for molecular diagnosis of variegate porphyria (20), another (E277K) has been described in a diabetic patient of Asian origin (25), and four others (V53M, V59M, E168Q, and V272L) have been reported in individuals not referred for HC (14)(20)(26).
From these recent findings, scanning the complete HFE coding region in HC probands with at least one chromosome lacking the C282Y and H63D mutations may be of particular interest, to define whether they carry uncommon HFE mutations liable to explain iron overload and confirm the diagnosis of HC. DNA sequencing analysis remains the definitive procedure for identifying mutations, but when faced with numerous samples, even with semiautomated high-throughput sequencing systems, systematic DNA sequencing analysis is still technically demanding, costly, and time-consuming. These drawbacks have led to the development of faster and less expensive scanning methods to identify positive samples and to further carry out DNA sequencing analysis of targeted regions only.
A recent approach is denaturing HPLC (DHPLC). This is an automated technology based on the separation of heteroduplex PCR products from their corresponding homoduplexes on an ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography system (27)(28). The hydrophobic stationary phase consists of alkylated nonporous poly(styrene/ divinylbenzene) particles, and the mobile phase consists of triethylammonium acetate and acetonitrile. The column is maintained at a set temperature to partially denature DNA molecules. Under these conditions, heteroduplexes attributable to mismatch pairing will form weaker interactions with the hydrophobic matrix. With a linear acetonitrile gradient, the heteroduplexes will therefore be eluted earlier than the homoduplexes. To form heteroduplexes, PCR-amplified DNA is heated to 94 °C and then cooled slowly. Samples containing a heterozygous mutation form both homoduplexes and heteroduplexes, and at least two peaks are observed. Samples that give a single peak could be either wild type or could contain a homozygous mutation. The latter can be easily identified by mixing the sample with wild-type amplified DNA and repeating the analysis, searching for heteroduplex formation.
Here we define optimized analytical conditions for each exon and report the successful application of DHPLC for screening the complete HFE coding region. We demonstrate the efficiency of this new approach by detecting the 17 known HFE mutations as well as 3 HFE polymorphisms localized in regions without known mutations. We thus conclude that DHPLC can be used for rapid, efficient scanning of the HFE gene in HC probands in whom at least one chromosome lacks an assigned mutation.
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
pcr primers and dna amplification for dhplc analysis
Six pairs of primers were designed to amplify the whole HFE coding region (including intron/exon junctions), based on the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank HFE gene sequence (Accession No. Z92910; Table 1
). Amplified fragments were 168377 bp in length. The regions amplified included 4480 bp of intron sequence on the 5' side of the exon and 2754 bp of intron sequence on the 3' side. PCR was performed in 50 µL containing the following: 25 pmol of each primer, 1.02.0 mM MgCl2, 1x PCR buffer II (Applied Biosystems), 200 µM each dNTP (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech), 1 U of AmpliTaq DNA polymerase (Applied Biosystems), and 100240 ng of DNA. We chose a Touchdown PCR protocol (29) to minimize PCR optimization and to reduce the number of thermocycler programs; in fact, one protocol was enough to amplify all six coding exons. Cycling conditions were as follows: a denaturation step at 94 °C for 3 min; 14 touchdown cycles with annealing temperature decreasing 0.5 °C per cycle from 63 to 56.5 °C (denaturation at 94 °C for 30 s, annealing for 30 s, primer extension at 72 °C for 45 s); 25 cycles with a 56 °C annealing temperature; and a final elongation step at 72 °C for 5 min. All PCR reactions were carried out using the GeneAmp PCR system 9700 (Applied Biosystems). Specific sizes and quantities of amplicons were checked by electrophoresis on 2% agarose gels. Amplicons were stored at 4 °C until DHPLC analysis.
|
site-directed mutagenesis
Genomic DNA from a healthy subject was extracted, and all six coding HFE gene fragments were amplified as described above. PCR products were purified on a Microcon 100 centrifugal filter (Millipore) and sequenced using the fluorescent-tagged dideoxy chain termination method with an ABI automated sequencer (Applied Biosystems) to check absence of DNA variations. These wild-type HFE sequences were then cloned into pGEM-T-easy (Promega) and used to recreate 18 HFE point mutations with the QuickChangeTM Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit (Stratagene). The mutagenic oligonucleotide primers were designed individually, based on the GenBank HFE gene sequence, according to the desired mutation and following the manufacturers recommendations. PCR amplifications were carried out using the GeneAmp PCR system 9700 (Applied Biosystems), following the manufacturers protocols depending on the nature of the mutation (substitution or deletion). All new HFE sequences were checked by sequencing.
dhplc analysis
Heteroduplexes were formed by heat denaturation of PCR products at 94 °C for 3 min and cooling to 68 °C for 15 min. For homozygous samples obtained from site-directed mutagenesis or for samples shown by DHPLC to contain one uniform sequence, equal amounts of the sample and wild-type PCR products were mixed (typically 10 µL of each). DHPLC analysis was carried out using the WAVETM DNA Fragment Analysis System (Transgenomic). The PCR mixture (510 µL; homoduplexes and heteroduplexes) was loaded on a preheated C18 reversed-phase column based on nonporous poly(styrene/divinylbenzene) particles (DNASepTM column; Transgenomic). Hetero- and homoduplexes were then eluted with a linear acetonitrile gradient formed by mixing buffer A (0.1 mol/L triethylamine acetate, pH 7.0; Transgenomic) and buffer B (0.1 mol/L triethylamine acetate, pH 7.0, containing 250 mL/L acetonitrile; Sigma) at a constant flow rate of 0.9 mL/min. DNA was detected at 260 nm. The analytical gradient was 3.5 min long, and buffer B was increased at 2%/min. For each fragment, the initial and final concentrations of buffer B were adjusted to obtain a retention time between 3 and 5 min. Running temperatures and gradient ranges are listed in Table 3
. Between samples, the column was cleaned with 100% buffer B for 30 s and equilibrated at starting conditions for 2 min.
|
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
hfe mutations and polymorphisms
The Wavemaker software gives a computer-assisted determination of melting profile and analytical conditions for each DNA fragment. Nevertheless, to achieve the maximum probability for detection of all mutations, DHPLC analytical conditions need to be optimized experimentally using positive controls. In this study, we tested the 17 known HFE mutations and 2 HFE polymorphisms, ATG -7T
C and 636G
C (V212V). The first polymorphism is located close to a coding sequence without mutations (exon 1), and the second is in the 5' melting domain of exon 4. The HFE mutations and polymorphisms are listed in Table 2
. No mutations or polymorphisms have been reported in the short coding region of exon 6. For reference, we arbitrarily chose to create a guanine-to-adenine transition 18 nucleotides upstream of the translation stop codon (1236G
A).
|
dhplc analysis
The analytical conditions for each HFE coding fragment were established separately, based on its experimentally determined melting curve. The temperature giving 75% denaturation of wild-type DNA was first defined. We then performed a temperature titration in 1 °C increments to screen 2 °C above and below this point for detection of mutations. All HFE nucleotide substitutions and deletions, depending on their respective melting domain locations, were tested to find optimized running conditions (see Table 3
). As predicted by its uniform computed melting characteristics, one temperature was sufficient to detect the seven mutations in exon 2. Testing for the 683G
C transversion (V212V) showed that one temperature was enough to explore the 5' melting domain of exon 4, where the 683G
C transversion is localized, as well as its 3' GC-rich melting domain, where the 814G
T (V272L), the 829G
A (E277K), and the 845G
A (C282Y) nucleotide substitutions are localized. In contrast, as predicted by the existence of distinct melting domains in exon 3, two temperatures were necessary to detect the six mutations efficiently. In fact, for exon 3, all mutations could be detected at 63 °C, but resolution of heteroduplexes from homoduplexes was better at 62 and 64 °C. Fig. 1A
displays the detection, at 62 °C and 63 °C, of the IVS3+1G
T nucleotide substitution localized in the lower melting domain of exon 3, and Fig. 1B
shows detection, at 63 and 64 °C, of the 506G
A (W169X) nucleotide substitution contained in its higher melting domain.
|
accuracy of dhplc for scanning the hfe gene for mutations
Analysis of 20 different PCR products, each containing known HFE sequences variations, consistently revealed an additional peak attributable to the reduced retention time of heteroduplex DNAs. As shown in Fig. 2
, because of their differences in retention times, the H63D/wt, S65C/wt, H63D/S65C, and wt/wt genotypes could be identified unequivocally. To validate the DHPLC method with a large set of unknown samples, we blindly analyzed 100 DNA samples that we had previously genotyped for the C282Y (exon 4), H63D, and S65C (exon 2) mutations by PCR with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Comparisons of the results demonstrated 100% concordance between the methods. We detected 15 C282Y homozygotes, 18 C282Y heterozygotes, 18 H63D heterozygotes, 6 S65C heterozygotes, 25 wild-type homozygotes, and 12 C282Y/H63D, 5 C282Y/S65C, and 1 H63D/S65C compound heterozygotes.
|
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Disregarding systematic sequencing of PCR products, several techniques are currently available for gene mutation scanning (32)(33). The most frequently used are single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (34) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (35). Each has advantages and disadvantages. Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis is relatively easy to perform but tends to lack sensitivity, especially with PCR products up to 200 bp. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis is highly reliable once the appropriate PCR primers and denaturing conditions have been developed, but it is labor-intensive and time-consuming. In this study, we evaluated DHPLC, a novel technique of mutation scanning based on the separation of heteroduplex PCR products from their corresponding homoduplexes, by reversed-phase liquid chromatography under partially denaturing conditions (27)(28). The major advantages of this method include the use of automated instrumentation, rapid analysis (
6 min per sample), low cost, and according to recent investigations, a high accuracy with 92.5100% mutation detection (36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41).
The analytical conditions for each of the HFE DNA coding fragments were carefully determined through the combination of computer prediction of melting profiles and empirical data that used available or artificially created sequence variants. PCR primers were designed to amplify each HFE coding fragment with the smallest differences possible between predicted melting domains within the fragment. Using this strategy, we were able to find uniform melting characteristics for exons 1, 2, 5, and 6. This approach was facilitated by the amplification of small coding fragments (168377 bp in length), and therefore, the melting profiles were relatively simple. Its reliability was demonstrated by the detection of seven mutations in exon 2 using a single analysis temperature. When the melting profile for a specific sequence was more complex and two or more distinct melting domains remained, the choice of operating temperature was more critical. In exon 3, a 1 °C change above and below the initial analysis temperature (63 °C) had a dramatic effect on the separation of hetero- and homoduplexes for mutations localized in the domains with the higher and lower melting temperatures, respectively. These data confirm that to ensure that the entire DNA fragment is studied, each melting domain must be tested with at least one DNA sequence variant to find its optimized running conditions. One of the major advantages of DHPLC is that it is easy to test the same PCR product under several different running conditions.
DHPLC is a rapid and rather inexpensive method. The instrument is still costly, and the method requires optimization, which might be time-consuming and costly. On the other hand, if the method is performed daily to analyze several disease genes and once the DHPLC analytical conditions are defined, labor is limited and the cost per sample is low. Thus, the complete HFE coding sequence (six coding fragments) for 16 DNA samples (96 wells) can be studied in 1 day at a cost of US $10/sample (excluding labor costs). In comparison, systematic sequencing analysis of the six HFE coding exons for 16 DNA samples (96 reactions), using an ABI 310 automated sequencer, should require 3 days at a cost of US $95/sample. Moreover, although DHPLC analysis reveals an additional peak in each of the 16 DNA samples, only one sequencing analysis would allow identification of the sequence variant in the targeted exon, which would add an extra cost of US $16/sample. Once the DHPLC analytical conditions are established, identification of samples with polymorphisms or mutations is straightforward. Our study demonstrates the high accuracy of DHPLC for scanning the HFE gene for the known mutations and polymorphisms. Because all predicted melting domains of the HFE coding region are investigated with at least one DNA sequence variant as reference, DHPLC also provides a high probability of detecting untested or unknown HFE mutations.
In conclusion, DHPLC is a rapid, economic, and accurate method for efficient scanning of the HFE gene in HC probands with at least one chromosome without an assigned mutation. The use of this method in other genetic disorders of iron metabolism, such as porphyria cutanea tarda, for which HFE mutations have been reported (20)(42)(43) may also be envisaged. Once detected by DHPLC, the role of uncommon HFE mutations in clinical interpretation may be complex. The nonsense, frameshift, and splice-site mutations that have a clear incidence on the HFE protein amino acids sequence, and consequently on its structure and function, can be unequivocally associated with disease. On the other hand, missense mutations must be considered with more caution. To evaluate the implications of this type of mutation, sequence alignment can be carried out to determine whether the amino acid is preserved among different species. For a missense mutation found in several subjects, a simple way involves comparing its frequency in chromosomes of HC patients and control subjects. In a previous study, we reported that the S65C mutation was significantly enriched in HC chromosomes that carried neither the C282Y nor the H63D mutation and that, as with the H63D mutation, the S65C mutation could be another variant contributing to iron overload in mildly affected hemochromatosis subjects (18). To confirm the association of an interesting missense mutation, a functional assay should be performed as described previously for the C282Y and H63D mutations (44).
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:
![]() |
S. Jacolot, G. Le Gac, V. Scotet, I. Quere, C. Mura, and C. Ferec HAMP as a modifier gene that increases the phenotypic expression of the HFE pC282Y homozygous genotype Blood, April 1, 2004; 103(7): 2835 - 2840. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
G. Biasiotto, S. Belloli, G. Ruggeri, I. Zanella, G. Gerardi, M. Corrado, E. Gobbi, A. Albertini, and P. Arosio Identification of New Mutations of the HFE, Hepcidin, and Transferrin Receptor 2 Genes by Denaturing HPLC Analysis of Individuals with Biochemical Indications of Iron Overload Clin. Chem., December 1, 2003; 49(12): 1981 - 1988. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. Scotet, M.-C. Merour, A.-Y. Mercier, B. Chanu, T. Le Faou, O. Raguenes, G. Le Gac, C. Mura, J.-B. Nousbaum, and C. Ferec Hereditary Hemochromatosis: Effect of Excessive Alcohol Consumption on Disease Expression in Patients Homozygous for the C282Y Mutation Am. J. Epidemiol., July 15, 2003; 158(2): 129 - 134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Fruchon, M. Bensaid, N. Borot, M.-P. Roth, and H. Coppin Use of Denaturing HPLC and a Heteroduplex Generator to Detect the HFE C282Y Mutation Associated with Genetic Hemochromatosis Clin. Chem., May 1, 2003; 49(5): 822 - 824. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
O. A. Bodamer, D. Bercovich, M. Schlabach, C. Ballantyne, D. Zoch, and A. L. Beaudet Use of Denaturing HPLC to Provide Efficient Detection of Mutations Causing Familial Hypercholesterolemia Clin. Chem., November 1, 2002; 48(11): 1913 - 1918. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Pissard, L.-T.-A. Huynh, J. Martin, and M. Goossens HFE Genotyping by Amplification Refractory Mutation System-Denaturing HPLC Clin. Chem., May 1, 2002; 48(5): 769 - 772. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |