title: Apolipoprotein E genotyping: a comparative study between restriction endonuclease mapping and allelic discrimination with the LightCycler.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The apolipoprotein E (apo E) polymorphism is associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and the risk and the time of onset of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the interest in apo E genotyping is high, both for epidemiological research and for the purpose of diagnosing dyslipidemia or dementia. The aim of our study was to compare and evaluate two different methods for apo E genotyping, both on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Genomic DNA of 197 subjects was extracted from whole blood. The first method involved DNA amplification performing a PCR using specific primers and endonuclease restriction mapping. The second one was a DNA assay that used real-time PCR on the LightCycler instrument (Roche).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained a 100% concordance between the two methods and we found a relative allelic frequency distribution typical for an Italian population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LightCycler (LC) allelic discrimination method for apo E genotyping seems to be rapid, simple and accurate, suggesting a possible successful use of this method for diagnostic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ballerini
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellincampi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casciani
authors.forename: Corradino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Motti
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Federici
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015183:Restriction Mapping / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; C037130:GCGC-specific type II deoxyribonucleases