| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |



From the Department of Neuroscience,
*
Ophthalmology, and Genetics- Section of Medical Genetics, University of Genova, Genova; and the Service of Medical Genetics,
Azienda Ospedaliera San Martino of Genova, Genova, Italy
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Molecular analysis can be relevant to confirm clinical diagnosis and to detect carriers. Molecular tests are usually performed by PCR amplification of the region containing the GAA repeat, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis of the PCR products to determine their size.7, 8, 14 Campuzano et al7 previously described two different PCR protocols: one, usually named short PCR, is proper in detecting and sizing of repeats within the normal range. However, PCR amplification of DNA from heterozygous individual may fail to amplify the expanded allele. Primers generating larger amplicons were used in a long-range PCR protocol referred to as Long PCR7 to alleviate the selective amplification of the smaller allele. PCR artifacts resembling large GAA expansion have been observed in individuals with two normal but significantly different-sized alleles and in those with a single short expansion (<200 repeats).15 These are believed to be heteroduplex-like molecules as they disappear under denaturing conditions or following gel purification and re-electrophoresis. In some cases, heteroduplexes can create misinterpretation of data and false-positive results.15 The report of the External Quality Assessment (EQA) scheme of the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network (EMQN) highlights the dangers of relying on Long PCR method alone in detecting heterozygotes because of the 11.7% genotyping errors detected (FRDA EQA scheme 2002, personal communication). Southern blotting represents the method of choice to analyze the GAA repeat region16 and to correctly size large expanded alleles. This method, both technically demanding and labor intensive, is not cost effective enough in the handling of a few samples.
The triplet repeat primed PCR (TP PCR) method was developed by Warner et al17 to screen for expanded alleles in myotonic dystrophy. The PCR assay uses a locus-specific primer flanking the repeat together with paired primers amplifying from multiple priming sites within the repeat. Specificity is dictated by the fluorescently labeled, locus-specific primer. TP PCR gives a characteristic ladder on the fluorescence trace enabling the rapid identification of large pathogenic repeats that cannot be amplified using flanking primers. Subsequently, this approach was used to detect frataxin GAA repeat expansion18, 19 and to analyze FRDA patients with interrupted GAA expansion.20
The purpose of this study was to evaluate TP PCR as a screening method for FRDA diagnosis in the diagnostic laboratory of a Medical Genetics Department. This method was used to test 54 FRDA samples previously genotyped by Southern blotting. TP PCR allowed high-throughput screening of frataxin-expanded alleles.
| Materials and Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Nine subjects had a clinical diagnosis according to Harding criteria.6 In nine patients the diagnosis was suspected, while nine patients had diagnosis of Friedreich ataxia with retaining reflexes (FARR) or cerebellar ataxia of unknown origin. Twenty-seven subjects, belonging to FRDA families, were referred to ascertain their heterozygous carrier status.
Short and Long PCR
DNA used for PCR amplification was extracted from venous blood leukocytes using standard methods. Amplification of normal and expanded alleles was obtained by PCR procedures previously described.7
Triplet Repeat Primed PCR (TP PCR)
TP PCR was performed according to protocol kindly provided by Dr. M. Schmitt (Instiut de Gènètique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)/Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France, personal communication). Primer sequences used for FRDA TP PCR test were: P1 5'-GCTGGGATTACAGGCGCGCGA-3', P3 5'- TACGCATCCCAGTTTGAGACG-3', P4 5'-6-FAM TACGCATC-CCAGTTTGAGACGGAAGAAGAAGAAGAAGAAGAA-3'. TP PCR assay was performed in a reaction volume of 25 µl containing 200 ng genomic DNA, 1.5 mmol/L MgCl2, 10 mmol/L Tris (pH 8.3), 50 mmol/L KCl, 0.8 µmol/L primer P1, 0.8 µmol/L primer P3, 0.08 µmol/L primer P4, 200 µmol/L dNTPs each, and 2 units Taq polymerase (Eppendorf AG; Hamburg, Germany). The reactions were subjected to 30 cycles consisting of 94°C for 30 seconds, 60°C for 30 seconds, 72°C for 30 seconds followed by a 10-minute extension at 72°C. PCR products were incubated at 95°C for 2 minutes and cooled on ice before loading and resolved by electrophoresis on an automatic sequencer (ABI 310; Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). Five µl of each PCR product were added to 18 µl of formamide (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) and 0.5 µl of Genescan 400HD [Rox] Size standard (Applied Biosystems). Each sample underwent TP PCR three times.
Southern Blotting
Southern blot analysis was performed on EcoRI or BsiHKAI-digested (New England BioLabs, Inc.) genomic DNA.7, 16
On Southern blot, the frataxin probe detects the FRDA expansion mutation with both restriction enzymes that determine normal fragment sizes of 8.2 and 2.4 kb, respectively. EcoRI digestion was used in a first series of individuals. The remaining samples were analyzed using BsiHKAI-digested DNA. Samples previously digested by EcoRI were used as controls.
Twenty µg of genomic DNA were digested by BsiHKAI, electrophoresed in 1.3% agarose gel, and hybridized with a
-32P-radiolabeled 453-bp genomic fragment (from position 366 to 828 in the GenBank sequence U43748) containing exon 1 of the frataxin gene including part of the 5' untranslated and part of intron 1. Blots were washed in saline sodium citrate (SSC) and exposed for autoradiography. The restriction fragment length was determined by comparison with a ladder (MassRuler DNA Ladder, High Range, Fermentas GmbH, St. Leon-Rot, Germany).
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
|
|
Individual genotypes were determined combining short PCR data with those obtained by means of TP PCR as follows: 6 of 9 (66.7%) patients with clinical diagnosis of FRDA were carriers of the expansion on both alleles, while three patients (33.3%) had two alleles with GAA repeats in the normal size range. Among nine patients with suspected FRDA, 2 (23.3%) had two expanded alleles and seven (76.7%) had two alleles in the normal range. The two patients with FARR were heterozygous for the GAA expansion. Among seven patients with cerebellar ataxia of unknown origin, five had two alleles in the normal range, one had two expanded alleles, and one resulted heterozygous (Table 1)
. Seventeen of 27 possible FRDA carriers resulted heterozygous for the GAA expansion and 10 were carriers of two normal alleles.
Within the sample series, Long PCR was applied in a subset of 23 subjects, as its use was discontinued after the introduction of TP PCR. Combined data from Long PCR and short PCR provided 10 unambiguous genotypes. TP PCR analysis in the remaining 13 samples allowed to detect expansion in five homozygous and four heterozygous carriers. These data were consistent with Southern blotting results (data not shown).
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate this technique as screening method for a laboratory of a Medical Genetic Service in which few samples are occasionally sent for FRDA diagnosis or carrier status assessment. In fact, in our experience, about 50% of tests are performed on individuals belonging to FRDA families to detect carriers. Therefore, the laboratory priority in a screening FRDA test is the reliable detection of the expansion rather than its accurate sizing.
TP PCR method has many advantages and fits especially well for rapid handling and testing of a few samples as required in laboratory routine since the method is PCR-based, rapid, and not labor intensive. The analysis can be made using a small amount of DNA, it is a closed-tube system that does not require post-PCR handling, and has a high sample throughput.
To assess TP PCR method and introduce it in the routine diagnostic protocol for FRDA we performed the assay on a total of 54 individuals previously genotyped by combined techniques. Results showed a 100% concordance with those obtained by Southern blotting analysis. The reaction was successful on DNA samples of different quality and extracted by using different procedures thus showing the robustness of the method. Moreover, the reaction was performed at least three times for each sample with identical results demonstrating a high reproducibility of this technique.
The comparison between Southern blot and TP PCR did not reveal false positive and negative results suggesting that TP PCR assay has high sensitivity and specificity for the frataxin GAA expansion both in homozygous and heterozygous subjects. We reported that this technique is a powerful and not labor intensive approach, which would reduce the recourse to Southern blotting in the preliminary screening. Nevertheless, TP PCR alone is not specific to ascertain the genotype and does not provide the size of expanded GAA repeat alleles.17 Therefore, we propose a step-wise protocol for the molecular analysis in FRDA.
The first step is aimed at establishing the genotype pertaining to the GAA expansion, that is, ascertaining the presence of one or two expanded alleles. It involves both short PCR and TP PCR. Short PCR is robust enough to detect normal alleles, while TP PCR provides a superior and consistent level of information about presence or absence of the expansion. By the means of the two combined assays, the genotype can be easily assessed in a short time. The accuracy of TP PCR joined with its rapid performance makes this first step applicable also to prenatal diagnosis in families in which the molecular characterization was previously obtained.
The second step should be accomplished when an accurate estimation of the GAA repeat size is needed, according to referral reasons and reporting standards. The completion of the first step implies a reduction in the number of samples to be processed for repeat sizing by either Long PCR or Southern blotting, as only expanded alleles should be evaluated. Long PCR, although able to identify expanded alleles, does not appear a method of choice because of the high rate of genotyping errors. In fact, confirmation by another method is recommended (EMQN report of the EQA scheme, 2002). The results obtained in our series confirmed this observation (data not shown). Therefore, Southern analysis could be considered the standard method to obtain a definite characterization of the GAA expansion.
It is worth emphasizing that, along the identification and characterization of expanded alleles, a complete molecular diagnosis of FRDA must include screening for point mutation in heterozygous individuals. This corresponds to the third step of the protocol, which should be limited to selected cases.
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
Supported in part by a grant from the Ministero della Salute (to P.M.).
P.C. and E.D.M. contributed equally to this work.
Accepted for publication April 30, 2004.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
M. Anheim, M.-C. Fleury, J. Franques, M.-C. Moreira, J.-P. Delaunoy, D. Stoppa-Lyonnet, M. Koenig, and C. Tranchant Clinical and Molecular Findings of Ataxia With Oculomotor Apraxia Type 2 in 4 Families Arch Neurol, July 1, 2008; 65(7): 958 - 962. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |