title: Simple and effective determination of apolipoprotein E genotypes by positive/negative polymerase chain reaction products.
abstract: Several protein and DNA-based methods have been previously described for the identification of apolipoprotein E isoforms or genotypes. However, all of them generate frequently false-positive results. The purpose of this study was to set up a new, simple, and effective method for the analysis of the apoE polymorphism. A total of 1,253 subjects previously examined for the apolipoprotein E polymorphism by restriction fragment length polymorphism were reanalyzed by our new method based on Taq DNA polymerase's inability to correctly initiate the replication in the presence of a mismatch at the 3' end of the primer. We conceived a combination of 4 specific primers in 3 different pairs sharing the same stringent polymerase chain reaction conditions to directly detect the presence/absence of polymerase chain reaction products, and thus reveal the 6 apolipoprotein E genotypes. We confirm our previous results in 1,171 subjects, whereas in 82 subjects out of 1,253 (about 6%), the results have been reinterpreted. The final analysis revealed a total of 12 homozygotic subjects for the e2 allele (1.0%), 874 homozygotes for the e3 allele (69.8 %), and 8 homozygotes for the e4 allele (0.6 %). The frequence of heterozygotes was 8.7% for the e2/e3 genotype (n=109), 1.4% for the e2/e4 genotype (n=17), and 0.6% for the e3/e4 genotype (n=8). Relative allele frequencies were e2=0.060, e3=0.834, and e4=0.106. We describe a new, simple, unequivocal, and nonexpensive method for the identification of the 6 apoE genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Pathology of Aging and Oncology Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy. dseripa@operapadrepio.it
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seripa
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Signori
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gravina
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Matera
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Vito M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Fazio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D017931:DNA Primers; D004247:DNA