ALLELE-SPECIFIC ASSOCIATED POLYMORPHISM ANALYSIS - NOVEL MODIFICATION OF SSCP FOR MUTATION DETECTION IN HETEROZYGOUS ALLELES USING THE PARADIGM OF RESISTANCE TO THYROID-HORMONE

Allele specific polymorphism (ASAP) analysis is a modification of single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) mutation screening under optimized temperature conditions in a minigel format with ethidium bromide detection. ASAP analysis was used to screen for and identify mutations within the human thryoid hormone receptor-beta (hTR-beta) gene, These mutations are the underlying cause of resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH). Eleven dissimilar known hTR-beta mutations and six previously uncharacterized mutations were accurately identified, ASAP screening extends to unique ASAP-DNA fingerprinting as an identifying signature for each novel hTR-beta mutation detected thus far. Gel plugs from the SSCP gels containing polymorphic single stranded DNA alleles were used without elution to prepare solid-phase sequencing templates for mutant allele PCR and sequencing (MAPS). The coupling of ASAP analysis with MAPS has eliminated many of the interpretative and technical problems associated with the sequencing of heterozygous alleles. Together, this convenient screening and sequencing methodology offers accuracy, reproducibility, speed, and the potential elimination of all radioactivity, providing a general strategy for future automated detection and characterization of genetic mutations. (C) 1995 Wiley Liss, Inc.