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Genetic Testing
A New, Easy, and Rapid High-Throughput Detection Method for the Common GJB2 (CX26), 35delG Mutation

To cite this paper:
E. Van Eyken, G. Van Camp, J.J. Hendrickx, K. Demeester, A. Vandevelde, J. Ben Azza, P. Van de Heyning, L. Van Laer. Genetic Testing. September 1, 2007, 11(3): 231-234. doi:10.1089/gte.2006.0528.

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E. Van Eyken
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp (UA), Antwerp, Belgium.
G. Van Camp
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp (UA), Antwerp, Belgium.
J.J. Hendrickx
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium.
K. Demeester
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium.
A. Vandevelde
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp (UA), Antwerp, Belgium.
J. Ben Azza
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp (UA), Antwerp, Belgium.
P. Van de Heyning
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium.
L. Van Laer
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp (UA), Antwerp, Belgium.

GJB2 (Gap Junction protein β type 2; Connexin 26, CX26) is known for its contribution to nonsyndromic recessive deafness (NSRD). One particular mutation, 35delG, a deletion of one guanine from a stretch of six leading to a frame shift early in the gene, has a high prevalence in populations from European descent. 35delG testing therefore has become a standard test in genetic diagnostic laboratories. Most of the currently available methods for the detection of 35delG are relatively time consuming, and not suited for high-throughput diagnostic testing. Within this paper we present a real-time PCR genotyping assay based on melting curve analysis, requiring only a single preparation step before the actual analysis. The assay was optimized on a panel of 48 samples with known 35delG genotypes and subsequently tested using a large Belgian population (N = 460) with unknown 35delG status. For the latter set of samples, real-time PCR results were validated with SNAPShot, an assay used in our laboratory for diagnostic purposes. The real-time PCR genotyping method has proven to be highly reliable, rapid, cost-effective, and suitable for high-throughput screening. We believe that this genetic test for 35delG will find widespread applications in the DNA diagnostic field.

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