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Alves AC, Azevedo S, Benito-Vicente A, Graça R, Galicia-Garcia U, Barros P, Jordan P, Martin C, Bourbon M. LDLR variants functional characterization: Contribution to variant classification. Atherosclerosis 2021; 329:14-21. [PMID: 34167030 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal disorder of lipid metabolism presenting with increased cardiovascular risk. LDLR mutations are the cause of disease in 90% of the cases but functional studies have only been performed for about 15% of all LDLR variants. In the Portuguese Familial Hypercholesterolemia Study (PFHS), 142 unique LDLR alterations were identified and 44 (30%) lack functional characterization. The aim of the present work is to increase evidence for variant classification by performing functional characterization of 13 LDLR missense alterations found in Portugal and in 20 other countries. METHODS Different LDLR mutants were generated by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in CHO-ldlA7 cells lacking endogenous expression of LDLR. To determine the effects of alterations on LDLR function, cell surface expression, binding and uptake of FITC-LDL were assessed by flow cytometry and Western blot. RESULTS Of the 13 variants studied 7 were shown to affect LDLR function - expression, binding or uptake, with rates lower than 60%: p.(Cys184Tyr), p.(Gly207_Ser213del); p.(His211Asp); p.(Asp221Tyr); p.(Glu288Lys); p.(Gly592Glu) and p.(Asp601Val)). The remaining 6 variants do not alter the LDLR function. CONCLUSIONS These studies contributed to an update of these variants classification: from the 9 variants classified as variants of unknown significance, 7 have reached now a final classification and 3 variants have improved classification from likely pathogenic to pathogenic. In Portugal, an additional 55 patients received an FH definite diagnosis thanks to these studies. Since only likely pathogenic and pathogenic variants are clinically actionable, this work shows the importance of functional studies for variant classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Alves
- Unidade de I&D, Grupo de Investigação Cardiovascular, Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Prevenção de Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal; BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Azevedo
- Unidade de I&D, Grupo de Investigação Cardiovascular, Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Prevenção de Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Asier Benito-Vicente
- Biofisika Institute (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad Del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Rafael Graça
- Unidade de I&D, Grupo de Investigação Cardiovascular, Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Prevenção de Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal; BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Unai Galicia-Garcia
- Biofisika Institute (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad Del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain; Department of Molecular Biophysics, Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Patrícia Barros
- BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Genética Humana, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Peter Jordan
- BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Genética Humana, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Cesar Martin
- Biofisika Institute (UPV/EHU, CSIC) and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad Del País Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Mafalda Bourbon
- Unidade de I&D, Grupo de Investigação Cardiovascular, Departamento de Promoção da Saúde e Prevenção de Doenças Não Transmissíveis, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal; BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Roman TS, Crowley SB, Roche MI, Foreman AKM, O'Daniel JM, Seifert BA, Lee K, Brandt A, Gustafson C, DeCristo DM, Strande NT, Ramkissoon L, Milko LV, Owen P, Roy S, Xiong M, Paquin RS, Butterfield RM, Lewis MA, Souris KJ, Bailey DB, Rini C, Booker JK, Powell BC, Weck KE, Powell CM, Berg JS. Genomic Sequencing for Newborn Screening: Results of the NC NEXUS Project. Am J Hum Genet 2020; 107:596-611. [PMID: 32853555 PMCID: PMC7536575 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Newborn screening (NBS) was established as a public health program in the 1960s and is crucial for facilitating detection of certain medical conditions in which early intervention can prevent serious, life-threatening health problems. Genomic sequencing can potentially expand the screening for rare hereditary disorders, but many questions surround its possible use for this purpose. We examined the use of exome sequencing (ES) for NBS in the North Carolina Newborn Exome Sequencing for Universal Screening (NC NEXUS) project, comparing the yield from ES used in a screening versus a diagnostic context. We enrolled healthy newborns and children with metabolic diseases or hearing loss (106 participants total). ES confirmed the participant's underlying diagnosis in 15 out of 17 (88%) children with metabolic disorders and in 5 out of 28 (∼18%) children with hearing loss. We discovered actionable findings in four participants that would not have been detected by standard NBS. A subset of parents was eligible to receive additional information for their child about childhood-onset conditions with low or no clinical actionability, clinically actionable adult-onset conditions, and carrier status for autosomal-recessive conditions. We found pathogenic variants associated with hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer in two children, a likely pathogenic variant in the gene associated with Lowe syndrome in one child, and an average of 1.8 reportable variants per child for carrier results. These results highlight the benefits and limitations of using genomic sequencing for NBS and the challenges of using such technology in future precision medicine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara S Roman
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Stephanie B Crowley
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Myra I Roche
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ann Katherine M Foreman
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Julianne M O'Daniel
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bryce A Seifert
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kristy Lee
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alicia Brandt
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chelsea Gustafson
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Daniela M DeCristo
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Natasha T Strande
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lori Ramkissoon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura V Milko
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Phillips Owen
- Renaissance Computing Institute, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA
| | - Sayanty Roy
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mai Xiong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ryan S Paquin
- Center for Communication Science, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Rita M Butterfield
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | - Megan A Lewis
- Center for Communication Science, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Katherine J Souris
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Donald B Bailey
- Genomics, Bioinformatics and Translational Research Center, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Christine Rini
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jessica K Booker
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bradford C Powell
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Karen E Weck
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Cynthia M Powell
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jonathan S Berg
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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Pyles LA, Elliott E, Neal WA. Screening for Hypercholesterolemia in Children: What Strategies Can Be Employed. CURRENT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK REPORTS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s12170-017-0531-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Analysis of the frequency and spectrum of mutations recognised to cause familial hypercholesterolaemia in routine clinical practice in a UK specialist hospital lipid clinic. Atherosclerosis 2013; 229:161-8. [PMID: 23669246 PMCID: PMC3701838 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Aim To determine the frequency and spectrum of mutations causing Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in patients attending a single UK specialist hospital lipid clinic in Oxford and to identify characteristics contributing to a high mutation detection rate. Methods 289 patients (272 probands) were screened sequentially over a 2-year period for mutations in LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 using standard molecular genetic techniques. The Simon Broome (SB) clinical diagnostic criteria were used to classify patients and a separate cohort of 409 FH patients was used for replication. Results An FH-causing mutation was found in 101 unrelated patients (LDLR = 54 different mutations, APOB p.(Arg3527Gln) = 10, PCSK9 p.(Asp374Tyr) = 0). In the 60 SB Definite FH patients the mutation detection rate was 73% while in the 142 with Possible FH the rate was significantly lower (27%, p < 0.0001), but similar (14%, p = 0.06) to the 70 in whom there was insufficient data to make a clinical diagnosis. The mutation detection rate varied significantly (p = 9.83 × 10−5) by untreated total cholesterol (TC) levels (25% in those <8.1 mmol/l and 74% in those >10.0 mmol/l), and by triglyceride levels (20% in those >2.16 mmol/l and 60% in those <1.0 mmol/l (p = 0.0005)), with both effects confirmed in the replication sample (p for trend = 0.0001 and p = 1.8 × 10−6 respectively). There was no difference in the specificity or sensitivity of the SB criteria versus the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score in identifying mutation carriers (AROC respectively 0.73 and 0.72, p = 0.68). Conclusions In this genetically heterogeneous cohort of FH patients the mutation detection rate was significantly dependent on pre-treatment TC and triglyceride levels. 54 different LDLR mutations found in a cohort of 272 FH probands. The cohort was found to be genetically heterogeneous with no specific FH mutation. Mutation detection rate was highly dependent on pre-treatment TC and TG levels. No difference in specificity/sensitivity between 2 clinical FH diagnosis approaches. Inadequate LDL-C reduction marks the need for more effective lipid-lowering therapy.
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Ho CKM, Stirling D, Hannant W, Walker SW. Genetic mutations in patients with possible familial hypercholesterolaemia in South East Scotland. Scott Med J 2013; 57:148-51. [PMID: 22859806 DOI: 10.1258/smj.2012.012020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is one of the most common genetic disorders in the general population. Genetic testing of this condition is increasingly available in the UK to confirm its diagnosis, but the strategies of genetic testing vary. In this pilot study, we sought to investigate whether a strategy that focuses on the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and apolipoprotein B (APOB) genes can identify the majority of genetic variants in patients with possible FH in South East Scotland. Forty patients with a clinical diagnosis of possible FH according to the Simon Broome criteria were recruited in a lipid clinic serving South East Scotland. All 18 exons of the LDLR gene were sequenced and multiplex ligation probe amplification was performed to identify major deletions and duplications. Variants of the APOB gene at codon 3527 were investigated by direct sequencing. Genetic mutations were detected in 45% of the patients. Sixteen patients (40%) were found to have mutations in their LDLR gene, whereas two other patients (5%) were identified as heterozygous for the APOB variant commonly associated with FH (c.10580G>A; p.R3527Q). None of these genetic variants were detected in more than two patients. Multiple genetic mutations are associated with a clinical phenotype of FH in South East Scotland. A genetic testing strategy which focuses on a limited number of mutations is unlikely to confirm the diagnosis of FH in the majority of patients in this part of Scotland.
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Affiliation(s)
- C K M Ho
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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Alharbi KK, Aldahmesh MA, Gaunt TR, Rassoulian H, Guthrie PAI, Rodriguez S, Boustred CR, Spanakis E, Day INM. MeltMADGE for mutation scanning of specific genes in population studies. Nat Protoc 2010; 5:1800-12. [PMID: 21030955 PMCID: PMC3575632 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2010.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
MeltMADGE reconfigures the mutation scanning process of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis so that the independent variable is time rather than space and the dependent (denaturing) variable is temperature rather than concentration of chemical denaturant. Use of a thermal ramp enables the use of a homogeneous gel and therefore of high-density arrays of wells such as those of microplate array diagonal gel electrophoresis (MADGE). In this configuration, electrophoresis of products on 10-12 96-well meltMADGE gels can be conducted in a 1- to 2-liter tank in a 1- to 2-h run, enabling the scanning of a target amplicon in over 1,000 subjects simultaneously. Gels are read by imaging the fluorescence of UV-excited ethidium bromide, giving a simple, economical system for identifying rarer sequence variants in target genes; it is suitable for large-scale case-control or population studies and other comparable applications. Different amplicons with similar melting characteristics can also be combined in the same run.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid K Alharbi
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O.Box 10219, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A Aldahmesh
- Developmental Genetics Unit, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital P.O.Box 3354, MBC 03, Riyadh 11211 Saudi Arabia
| | - Tom R Gaunt
- Bristol Genetic Epidemiology Laboratories and MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
| | - Hamid Rassoulian
- Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Queens Medical Centre, West Block, Floor-A, Derby Road, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Philip AI Guthrie
- Bristol Genetic Epidemiology Laboratories and MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
| | - Santiago Rodriguez
- Bristol Genetic Epidemiology Laboratories and MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher R Boustred
- Bristol Genetic Epidemiology Laboratories and MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
| | - Emmanuel Spanakis
- Sanofi-Aventis R&D, Biologics Dept - Stem Cells, 13 quai Jules Guesde, F-94403 VITRY-SUR-SEINE, France
| | - Ian NM Day
- Bristol Genetic Epidemiology Laboratories and MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
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Wang W, Zhang X, Zhou G. High-Throughput Genotyping by Coupling Adapter-Ligation Mediated Allele-Specific Amplification with Microplate Array Parallel Gel Electrophoresis. Mol Biotechnol 2009; 44:1-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s12033-009-9207-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2009] [Accepted: 08/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Humphries SE, Cranston T, Allen M, Middleton-Price H, Fernandez MC, Senior V, Hawe E, Iversen A, Wray R, Crook MA, Wierzbicki AS. Mutational analysis in UK patients with a clinical diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia: relationship with plasma lipid traits, heart disease risk and utility in relative tracing. J Mol Med (Berl) 2005; 84:203-14. [PMID: 16389549 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-005-0019-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2005] [Accepted: 10/13/2005] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
As part of a randomised trial [Genetic Risk Assessment for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) Trial] of the psychological consequences of DNA-based and non-DNA-based diagnosis of FH, 338 probands with a clinical diagnosis of FH (46% with tendon xanthomas) were recruited. In the DNA-based testing arm (245 probands), using single-strand conformation polymorphism of all exons of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene, 48 different pathogenic mutations were found in 62 probands (25%), while 7 (2.9%) of the patients had the R3500Q mutation in the apolipoprotein B (APOB) gene. Compared to those with no detected mutation, mean untreated cholesterol levels in those with the APOB mutation were similar, while in those with an LDLR mutation levels were significantly higher (None=9.15+/-1.62 vs LDLR=9.13+/-1.16 vs APOB=10.26+/-2.07 mmol/l p<0.001, respectively). Thirty seven percent of the detected mutations were in exon 3/4 of LDLR, and this group had significantly higher untreated cholesterol than those with other LDLR mutations (11.71+/-2.39 mmol/l vs 9.88+/-2.44 mmol/l, p=0.03), and more evidence of coronary disease compared to those with other LDLR or APOB mutations (36 vs 13% p=0.04). Of the probands with a detected mutation, 54 first-degree relatives were identified, of whom 27 (50%) had a mutation. Of these, 18 had untreated cholesterol above the 95th percentile for their age and gender, but there was overlap with levels in the non-carrier relatives such that 12% of subjects would have been incorrectly diagnosed on lipid levels alone. In the non-DNA-based testing arm (82 probands) only 19 of the 74 relatives identified had untreated cholesterol above the 95th percentile for their age and gender, which was significantly lower (p<0.0005) than the 50% expected for monogenic inheritance. These data confirm the genetic heterogeneity of LDLR mutations in the UK and the deleterious effect of mutations in exon 3 or 4 of LDLR on receptor function, lipids and severity of coronary heart disease. In patients with a clinical diagnosis of FH but no detectable mutation, there is weaker evidence for a monogenic cause compared with relatives of probands with LDLR mutations. This supports the usefulness of DNA testing to confirm diagnosis of FH for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia and for further cascade screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve E Humphries
- Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, British Heart Foundation Laboratories, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, Rayne Building, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JJ, UK.
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Tang Z, Tracy RP. Candidate genes and confirmed genetic polymorphisms associated with cardiovascular diseases: a tabular assessment. J Thromb Thrombolysis 2001; 11:49-81. [PMID: 11248790 DOI: 10.1023/a:1008956327032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Z Tang
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry Research, Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, Colchester 05446, USA.
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Abstract
Automated mutation analysis brings with it a vastly increased capacity in the number of test samples that can be processed at a time, as well as much improved test reproducibility. Until now, the introduction of automation into this field had been restricted to the use of semiautomated sequencing systems to make the most of the sequence information extractable from a single lane in an electrophoretic gel or in a polymer-filled glass capillary. Much effort is now being directed into harnessing the potential of DNA microarrays (DNA chips) and there is increasing interest in the potential of matrix-assisted mass spectrometry for determining the detail of large nucleic acid molecules. Meanwhile, there are other important recent developments already available, including robotic workstations, the further development of the allele-specific oligonucleotide assay into microtitre formats, and its use with fluorescence for real-time quantitative PCR analysis. Implementation of these developments in appropriate settings can further streamline the routine of molecular diagnostic laboratories, allowing them to take greater advantage of the recent surge of gene discoveries and their associated disease-causing mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Ravine
- Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Defesche
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
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