title: A unique origin for Sicilian (delta beta) (0)-thalassemia in 33 unrelated families and its rapid diagnostic characterization by PCR analysis.
abstract: Direct sequencing and restriction enzyme digestion of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product encompassing the breakpoint were used to characterize the Sicilian (delta beta)(0)-thalassemia deletion in 33 unrelated Italian subjects. All cases showed the same sequencing features at the breakpoint region, suggesting a unique origin for this deletion in Italy. We also describe a one-step PCR assay for the rapid screening of homozygotes and carriers of Sicilian (delta beta) (0)-thalassemia by the simultaneous use of three specific oligonucleotides. This procedure could have an impact on genetic counseling of couples at risk for this type of thalassemia, and with respect to compound heterozygotes bearing a Sicilian chromosome.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biotecnologie Mediche e Ceinge-Biotecnologie Avanzate, Università di Napoli Federico II, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gottardi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camaschella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvatore
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D017931:DNA Primers; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012802:Sicily; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers