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Clinical Chemistry 45: 1133-1140, 1999;
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(Clinical Chemistry. 1999;45:1133-1140.)
© 1999 American Association for Clinical Chemistry, Inc.


Articles

Optimal Temperature Selection for Mutation Detection by Denaturing HPLC and Comparison to Single-Stranded Conformation Polymorphism and Heteroduplex Analysis

Alistair C. Jones2, Jehannine Austin1, Nancy Hansen3, Bastiaan Hoogendoorn1, Peter J. Oefner3,1, Jeremy P. Cheadle2 and Michael C. O'Donovan1,a

Divisions of
1 Psychological Medicine and
2 Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, UK.
3 Stanford DNA Sequencing and Technology Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
a Address correspondence to this author at: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, UK. Fax 44 (0)1222 747839; e-mail odonovanmc{at}cardiff.ac.uk


   Abstract
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Appendix A
References
 
Background: Denaturing HPLC (DHPLC) is a semi-automated method for detecting unknown DNA sequence variants. The sensitivity of the method is dependent on the temperature at which the analysis is undertaken, the selection of which is dependent on operator experience. To circumvent this, software has been developed for predicting the optimal temperature for DHPLC analysis. We examined the utility of this software.

Methods: To maximize the relevance of our data for other investigators, we have screened 42 different amplimers from CFTR, TSC1, and TSC2. The samples consisted of 103 unique sequence heterozygotes and 126 wild-type homozygous controls.

Results: At the temperature recommended by the software, 96% (99 of 103) of heterozygotes and all of the wild-type controls were correctly classified. This compares favorably with sensitivities of 85% for single-stranded conformation polymorphism and 82% for gel-based heteroduplex analyses of the same fragments.

Conclusions: Software-optimized DHPLC is a highly sensitive method for mutation detection. However, where sensitivity >96% is required, our data suggest that in addition to the recommended temperature, fragments should also be run at the recommended temperature plus 2 °C.© 1999 American Association for Clinical Chemistry


   Introduction
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Appendix A
References
 
The identification of DNA sequence variation is one of the key steps in genomic analysis. At present, there are many available techniques for comparative DNA sequencing, but with the rapidly increasing DNA sequence available for humans and other species, there is a clear need for methods that have high throughput, are sensitive, and are at least semi-automated. Denaturing HPLC (DHPLC)1 is one such technique (1). The principle behind this method has been discussed in detail elsewhere (2), but in essence, the method depends on detecting heteroduplexes in PCR products by HPLC. The sensitivity of the analysis is maximized by maintaining the HPLC column at a temperature that favors partial strand denaturation in the presence of base-pair mismatching.

In our previous rigorously controlled blind analysis, DHPLC emerged as a highly sensitive and specific technique for detecting mutations (3). However, one of the main problems with successfully applying DHPLC is that the column temperature at which it is undertaken has to be chosen with care for each different PCR product. In previous studies (1)(3), the column temperature was selected empirically as the temperature at which the DNA product of interest was eluted from the DHPLC column ~1 min earlier in the analytic gradient compared with nondenaturing conditions. However, although highly sensitive analyses are achieved with this method, there are several major disadvantages inherent to this procedure. First, the use of operator judgement introduces a variable into the analysis that makes formal assessment of sensitivity across laboratories impossible. Second, the optimizing procedure, although brief, requires direct operator input, thus impeding automation and throughput. Third, some fragments have multiple melting domains, a fact that is easily ignored by the empirical temperature selection procedure.

In response to these concerns, we (N.H. and P.O.) have developed DHPLCMelt software to predict the optimal temperature for DHPLC. This is freely available at website http://insertion.stanford.edu/melt.html. We have also undertaken an analysis of the utility of this software for detecting mutations, using a blind study design. Furthermore, we have compared the sensitivity of software optimized DHPLC with single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and heteroduplex analyses. To maximize the relevance of our data for other investigators, we have screened 42 different amplimers from three genes containing a broad spectrum of mutations.


   Materials and Methods
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Appendix A
References
 
the DHPLCMelt PROGRAM
Like other software for predicting melt temperatures of double-stranded DNA (4)(5)(6), DHPLCMelt uses the Ising-like model that was proposed by Poland (7) and developed further by Wartell and Benight (8). For a double helix consisting of N base pairs, the solution algorithm begins with the recursive calculation of N - 1 conditional probabilities; from these, N site probabilities {theta}i,int that the ith base pair is closed given that the two strands are associated. The probability {theta}i that the ith base pair is closed is then the product of the associated site probability {theta}i,int and the probability {theta}ext that the strands are associated (i.e., {theta}i = {theta}i,int{theta}ext). Details of the calculation of {theta}ext and {theta}i,int are given in Appendix A.

The site melting temperature Ti is defined as the temperature at which the site is closed in 50% of fragments. Thus, Ti is found by calculating all {theta}i at a range of temperatures and determining the temperature at which {theta}i = 0.5 for the site, to an accuracy of 0.5 °C. The RTm is then the highest Ti in the fragment, and if the range of Ti values is >5 °C, it recommends running the fragment a second time at a temperature 5 °C lower.

parameters for the DHPLCMelt PROGRAM
The calculation of the probability of association qext requires three parameters: K, a, and b, whose meanings and usage are discussed elsewhere (9). It should be noted that K is not the equilibrium constant for dissociation, as might be suggested by its notation.

The values K = 5000, a = -3.2, and b = -2.8 have been shown empirically to give accurate results for other systems (8). In our calculations, the melting temperatures were largely insensitive to the values of these parameters because site melting was driven more by internal Watson-Crick bond breakage than by entire strand dissociation. Because of this, we used these parameters without modification. In addition, based on previous results (8), the loop entropy function f(m) was assigned as follows:

f(1) = 1

f(2) = 0.95

f(3) = 0.90

f(m) = 1/[1 - 1.38exp(0.1m)(m + 1)1.7]

The calculation of the values for {theta}i,int requires Watson-Crick bonding enthalpies {Delta}HATand {Delta}HGC, an entropy of bond breaking {Delta}S, a mean cooperativity parameter {sigma}1/2, and 10 stacking free energies {delta}GstM,N. By fitting to DHPLC data for 12 polymorphisms detected between 55 and 59 °C on four different BRCA2 exons, values of

{Delta}HAT = -7940 cal/mol

{Delta}HGC = -9030 cal/mol

and

{Delta}S = 25.2 cal/mol K

were obtained. We believe the enthalpy values are smaller in absolute magnitude than published values (8) because of the acetonitrile in the mobile phase. Additionally, a value of {sigma} = 0.0003985 was used (8), and the stacking free energies were taken from Gotoh and Tagashira (10).

Two additional modifications were made to the program after the implementation of the described model with the given parameters. When the program gave consistently high Ti temperatures for sequences melting above 60 °C (probably because of inadequate use of data in that range when fitting our parameters), the decision was made to lower all Ti temperatures above 60 °C according to the formula:

In addition, upon recalibration of the ovens in the laboratory of P.O., all temperature predictions were adjusted downward 1 °C because the oven temperatures were actually 1 °C higher than those indicated on the column oven display.

computer usage
The computer usage time required to calculate the site probabilities increases at a rate relative to the length of the DNA segment squared, and the memory requirements are linearly related to the length of the segment. A web query to calculate the melting profile of an 800-bp segment of will usually run in <1 min.

samples
Two hundred twenty-nine PCR samples representing 42 different amplimers of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR), and tuberous sclerosis complex TSC1 and TSC2 genes were supplied by A.J. and J.C. The samples consisted of 103 heterozygotes and 126 wild-type controls. The DHPLC analysts were blind to the nature and number of heterozygotes present in the sample, although a wild-type control for each amplimer was known. The mean size of fragments containing sequence variants was 308 bp (range, 173–630 bp). The sequence variants were 69 single-base substitutions, 12 single-base insertion/deletions, 8 two-base insertion/deletions, and 14 insertion/deletions of >=3 bases. All mutations and polymorphisms have been described previously (11)(12)(13), and full details of the heterozygote genotypes are available at http://www.uwcm.ac.uk/uwcm/mg/tsc_db/ dhplc.html.

In the first phase, 65 samples from nine different amplimers were run at (a) the recommended temperature (RTm), (b) the RTm + 3 °C, and (c) the RTm - 3 °C. Those samples that appeared heterozygous at one or more of the temperatures were run at a series of column temperatures (range, RTm ± 5 °C) to detect the range of temperatures at which heterozygous status could be detected.

These data were used to determine the proportion of the DHPLC-detectable heterozygotes that could be detected at each temperature relative to the recommended temperature. In turn, these data were used to define the temperatures for the prospective phase, using 164 samples. These were the RTm and the RTm + 2 °C.

pcr
Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood samples by standard methods. PCR was carried out in 50-µL reaction volumes containing 100 ng of genomic DNA, 0.5 µmol/L primers, 0.2 mmol/L dNTP, 10 mmol/L Tris, pH 8.3, 50 mmol/L KCl, 1.5 mmol/L MgCl2, 0.1 g/L gelatin, and 1U of AmpliTaq Gold Polymerase (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). Cycling conditions were 94 °C for 10 min, followed by 32–33 cycles of 54–58°C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min, 94 °C for 30 s, and a final step of 72 °C for 10 min. Primer sequences, product sizes, and annealing temperatures for amplification of CFTR, TSC1, and TSC2 exons have been published previously (11)(12)(13). Although DHPLC is generally performed on crude PCR products, the products must be free of oil contamination. Unfortunately, all PCRs had previously been optimized on equipment requiring a mineral oil overlay to prevent sample evaporation (11)(12)(13); therefore, to avoid the need for reoptimization of the PCR reactions for thermocyclers with heated lids, all PCR reactions were performed under mineral oil, which was then removed using a QiaPCR purification kit (Qiagen Ltd) according to the manufacturers specifications. This procedure does not alter the resolution of heteroduplexes (Fig. 1 ), but as the primer and dNTPs are removed by purification, the size of the large early peak attributable to these reagents is reduced. Fig. 1 was generated after peer review. Although the column was identical to that used in this study (DNASep; Transgenomic), our laboratory had converted from Rainin equipment (below) to a WAVETM DHPLC instrument (Transgenomic), and therefore, the gradients are slightly different from those used for all other analyses presented.



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Figure 1. Effect of QiaPCR purification (Qiagen) on heteroduplex resolution.

The amplimer is a PCR product representing a 276-bp fragment of TSC2 exon 15. (A), PCR from homozygote performed "oil free"; (B), PCR from homozygote with oil overlay followed by QiaPCR purification; (C), PCR from a 2122del AC heterozygote performed oil free; (D), PCR from a 2122del AC heterozygote with oil overlay followed by QiaPCR purification. The running conditions were as follows: oven temperature, 60 °C; analytic gradient, 57–64% B over 3.5 min. The elution time (min) is on the x-axis; the ultraviolet absorbance at 260 nm (mV) is on the y-axis. Purification does not alter the resolution of the heteroduplexes, but as the primer and dNTPs are removed, the size of the large early peak in panel A attributable to these reagents is reduced in panel B after purification.

dhplc, sscp, and heteroduplex analysis
DHPLC was performed on a PEEK/Titanium HPLC system (3) purchased from Rainin. Between 5 and 10 µL of crude PCR product was loaded on a DNASep column (Transgenomic) and was then eluted from the column by an acetonitrile gradient in a 0.1 mol/L triethylamine acetate buffer (TEAA), pH 7, at a constant flow rate of 0.9 mL/min. The gradient was created by mixing eluents A (0.1 mol/L TEAA, 0.1 mmol/L Na4EDTA) and B (250 mL/L acetonitrile in 0.1 mol/L TEAA). Eluted DNA fragments were detected with a Dynamax UV-C detector (Rainin). Column temperature was controlled using a Rainin column heater model CH-1. Oven temperatures were selected using the software available at http://hardy-weinberg.stanford.edu/dhplc/melt.html (Ver. March 1998) and are listed at http://www.uwcm.ac.uk/uwcm/mg/tsc_db/dhplc.html. The temperatures given here refer to direct measurements of column temperature, using a thermocouple. Analytic gradients were 3.5 min long with linear increments of reagent B at a rate of 1.8%/min. After each analysis, the column was cleaned with 95% reagent B for 40 s and reconditioned for 40 s with eluent containing reagent B at a proportion 5% less than the starting percentage for the analysis. After injection, the proportion of reagent B was increased over 30 s to the start percentage of reagent B. Gradients were chosen empirically to elute the PCR products 1.5–3 min into the analytic run.

To asses the relative performances of DHPLC, SSCP, and heteroduplex analysis under a single set of conditions, the sensitivity of DHPLC using just the RTm was compared to SSCP and gel-based heteroduplex analysis performed under our standard assay conditions (12).


   Results
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Appendix A
References
 
The investigation of the optimal temperature for DHPLC was performed in two phases. The purpose of phase 1 was to determine the minimum number of temperatures that were required to detect all sequence variations by DHPLC and the relationship of the optimal empirical temperatures relative to those recommended by the software (RTm). The purpose of phase 2 was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of DHPLC analysis under the conditions derived from phase 1 in a prospective blinded study. Illustrative chromatograms are given in Fig. 2 .



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Figure 2. Sample chromatograms obtained with the Rainin apparatus used to conduct this study.

The samples are PCR products representing a 280-bp fragment of TSC2 exon 40. (A), wild-type homozygote; (B), heterozygote R1743P G->C; (C), heterozygote D1734 T->C; (D), 5178–9 A->C. Additional details of these mutations are given elsewhere (13). The running conditions were as follows: oven temperature, 63 °C; analytic gradient, 59–65.3% B over 3.5 min. The elution time (min) is represented on the x-axis, and the ultraviolet absorbance at 260 nm is represented on the y-axis (in µV).

phase 1
Of the 65 samples analyzed in phase 1, 32 were heterozygotes. The proportion of heterozygotes that could be detected at each temperature relative to the RTm is given in Table 1 . The median number of temperatures at which heterozygosity could be detected was 8, the mode was 6, and the range was 4–11. Because we did not analyze samples beyond 5 °C on either side of the RTm, these values represent minimum values. Indeed, 25 of 32 heterozygotes were still detectable at either the highest or lowest temperatures studied. Only one sample was detectable at less than six different temperatures, and this sample was still detectable at the highest temperature. There was no temperature relative to the RTm that allowed all variants to be detected (Table 1 ). The temperatures relative to the RTm that allowed the most efficient mutation detection were the RTm and the RTm + 1 °C, each of which allowed 31 of 32 variants to be detected. However, all heterozygotes could be detected using a combination of the column temperatures RTm and RTm + 2 °C. Thus, for the phase 2 of the study, both of these temperatures were used.


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Table 1. Number of variants identified (of a possible 32) at each temperature relative to that recommended by the DHPLCMelt program (RTm).

phase 2
Of 164 samples in phase 2, 71 were heterozygotes. All but three could be detected at the RTm. The three heterozygotes that were not detected at the RTm were, however, resolved at the RTm + 2 °C. Conversely, five heterozygotes could not be detected at the RTm + 2 °C. However, all of these were easily resolved at the RTm.

comparison of dhplc, sscp, and gel-based heteroduplex analysis
Of the 103 heterozygotes assayed, 99 (96%) were detected at the RTm by DHPLC, 88 (85%) were detected by SSCP, and 84 (82%) were detected by gel-based heteroduplex analysis under optimized conditions (see Materials and Methods and Table 2 ). Of the 69 single-base substitutions, 66 were detected at the RTm by DHPLC, whereas only 58 and 51 were detected by SSCP and heteroduplex analysis, respectively. The two 2-bp deletions that SSCP failed to detect were in 630-bp fragments.


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Table 2. Summary of types of DNA variants analyzed and mutation detected sensitivites of DHPLC (at RTm only), SSCP, and gel-based heteroduplex analysis.


   Discussion
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Appendix A
References
 
In this study, we have examined the sensitivity and specificity of DHPLC for the detection of sequence alterations, using software for predicting the optimal column temperature for analysis. Our investigation was undertaken under rigorous conditions of blindness, using 42 different fragments containing a diverse series of sequence variants to simulate real laboratory experience.

To best determine the most efficient and most sensitive mutation detection strategy, our study had two phases. In phase 1, fragments were run at multiple temperatures to determine the temperature range at which the heteroduplexes could be detected and also the temperature relative to the RTm that allowed the highest proportion of heteroduplexes to be detected. Our data from this phase of the study suggest that ~97% of different heteroduplexes can be detected at the RTm. However, for 100% detection, our results suggested that this should be supplemented by a run at the RTm + 2 °C. Note that these temperatures relative to the RTm are "optimal" in the sense that they allow the greatest proportion of heteroduplexes to be identified, not in the sense that resolution of a given heteroduplex is maximal. This is illustrated in Fig. 2Up , which clearly shows that some of the heteroduplexes are better resolved than others.

Although the DHPLC laboratory remained blind to the true nature of the samples (homozygote or heterozygote), it was not possible to retain blindness between chromatograms of the same sample taken at different temperatures; therefore, although the DHPLC operators rated each chromatogram separately, we cannot exclude the possibility that the raters utilized information from other chromatograms, which might lead to an inflation of the apparent sensitivity of DHPLC at any given temperature. For this reason, a second prospective study was performed based on the above recommendations, i.e., running samples at the RTm and the RTm + 2 °C.

The prospective phase of this study confirmed the findings of the first phase, i.e., all heterozygotes could be detected using two temperatures. Furthermore, use of the RTm suggested by the program enabled 68 of 71 heterozygous individuals (96%) and all homozygous individuals to be correctly designated. These values compare favorably with SSCP and heteroduplex analysis. Using these methods, we detected 85% of variants by SSCP, whereas 82% could be detected by heteroduplex analysis. However, because most of the sequence variants we have screened in this study were originally detected by SSCP or heteroduplex analysis, our estimate of the sensitivities of these two methods is likely to be inflated. Consequently, we are likely to have underestimated the superiority of DHPLC over these two commonly used methods. Of course, there are other highly sensitive methods (other than sequencing) for mutation detection, e.g., denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (14) and its derivative technique constant denaturant gel electrophoresis (15). Although we have not performed a direct comparison between DHPLC and these methods, our results indicate that the sensitivity of DHPLC is comparable. However, unlike denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, DHPLC is automated and does not require expensive gas chromatography clamps, labor-intensive optimization, or the production of gels; it therefore is a favorable alternative for high sensitivity mutation detection in both research and diagnostic environments.

This study therefore confirms previous work showing that DHPLC is a highly sensitive and specific method for detecting unknown sequence variation. More importantly, we have also shown that available software allows all variants to be detected without empirical optimization of the running conditions. This is important for several reasons. First, removing the uncertainty about selection of optimal temperature on the basis of operator judgment will allow researchers to empirically assess the sensitivity with which a particular DHPLC comparative sequencing study has been performed in their own and other laboratories. This is particularly important in situations in which candidate genes for diseases are "excluded" or in diagnostic applications. Second, the removal of optimization steps is a further move toward full automation and will allow an increase in throughput. Third, the removal of an optimization step will allow relatively less experienced personnel to "service" the DHPLC apparatus, a factor that is also important for high-throughput applications.

It is not clear why some of the fragments were not detectable at the RTm. Three of the undetected mutations were single-base changes (C->T, T->G, and C->T) and one was a single-base insertion (ins T). The fragment sizes containing the undetected variants were 253, 291, 425, and 477 bases. Only two of these fragments were larger than the mean fragment size (308 bases), all were detectable at a higher temperature, all amplimers contained other variants that were detected, and eight of eight variants in fragments larger than the largest of these were also detected. Therefore, it does not seem likely the fragment size is responsible for our failure to detect these variants at the RTm. In addition, all of the undetected mutations were in melt sites calculated to be within 1 °C of the RTm; therefore, the location of mutations in melt sites that are quite different from the RTm cannot be responsible. The most likely possibility is that the software does not allow for some local variables that might stabilize mismatches, e.g., hairpin loop formation (N. Hansen and P. Oefner, unpublished observation), but this is the subject of further modeling and we hope to incorporate this in future versions of DHPLCMelt.

It is important to note that the temperatures we describe in this study are the measured column temperatures rather than those indicated by the oven. In the case of the Rainin instrument, we found that over the range of temperatures used in this study, the column temperature was 1 °C lower than indicated by the oven, whereas the measured column temperature in the WAVE (Transgenomic) DHPLC instrument in our laboratory was as indicated by the oven display. We would, therefore, recommend that to take advantage of our data, other researchers measure the column temperature achieved by their particular instrument.

Based on the results of this study, we would make the following recommendations regarding the optimal strategy for applying DHPLC. For most applications, e.g., the generation of single nucleotide polymorphism maps and most candidate gene studies, analysis at the RTm is most appropriate because sensitivity at the RTm is ~95%. However, when 100% sensitivity and specificity are required, e.g., when a gene has already been identified as pathogenic, analysis at the RTm and the RTm + 2 °C is recommended.


   Appendix A
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Appendix A
References
 
We include here the equations use to calculate the site probabilities because of ambiguities in the previous literature (8) and after making the assignments: ature in degrees Kelvin. The conditional probabilities [P(1k|1), the probability that base k + 1 is closed if base k is closed] are calculated using the equations:

and

where R is the Boltzmann constant and T is the temper


and

where

and

The values for {alpha} are updated at each step using:

and then


and the values for ß are updated with:


The recursive relation for the site probabilities {theta}1,int begins with:


where

and

The values for {gamma} and µ must also be updated using the equations:

and



Finally, {theta}ext is calculated using the equations:

where

and

[see Ref. (9)], and the weight of the all-open state, W0, is given by:


   Acknowledgments
 
This work was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council (Project Grant G9814784) and grants from the Welsh Scheme for the Development of Health and Social Research, the Tuberous Sclerosis Association (GB), the National Tuberous Sclerosis Association, and the National Institutes of Health (3R01 HG01707-02). We thank J. Sampson for critical reading of this manuscript.


   Footnotes
 
1 Nonstandard abbreviations: DHPLC, denaturing HPLC; SSCP, single-stranded conformation polymorphism; Ti, site melting temperature; RTm, recommended temperature; and TEAA, triethylamine acetate.


   References
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Appendix A
References
 

  1. Underhill PA, Jin L, Lin AA, Mehdi SQ, Jenkins T, Vollrath D, et al. Detection of numerous Y chromosome biallelic polymorphisms by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Genome Res 1997;7:996-1005. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Oefner PJ, Underhill PA. DNA mutation detection using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). In: Dracopoli NC, Haines JL, Korf BR, Moir DT, Morton CC, Seidman CE, Seidman JG, Smith DR, eds. Current protocols in human genetics, Suppl. 19. New York: John Wiley & Son, 1998:7.10.1–12..
  3. O'Donovan MC, Oefner PJ, Roberts SC, Austin J, Guy CA, Hoogendoorn B, et al. Blind analysis of denaturing high performance liquid chromatography as a tool for mutation detection. Genomics 1998;52:44-49. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  4. Steger G. Thermal denaturation of double-stranded nucleic-acids: prediction of temperatures critical for gradient gel-electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction. Nucleic Acids Res 1994;22:2760-2768. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Brossette S, Wartell RM. A program for selecting DNA fragments to detect mutations by denaturing gel-electrophoresis methods. Nucleic Acids Res 1994;22:4321-4325. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  6. Lerman LS, Silverstein K. Computational simulation of DNA melting and its application to denaturing gradient gel-electrophoresis. Methods Enzymol 1987;155:482-501. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  7. Poland D. Recursion relation generation of probability profiles for specific-sequence macromolecules with long-range correlations. Biopolymers 1974;13:1859-1871. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  8. Wartell RM, Benight AS. Thermal-denaturation of DNA-molecules: a comparison of theory with experiment. Phys Rep 1985;126:67-107.
  9. Poland D, Scheraga W. Theory of helix-coil transitions in biopolymers: statistical mechanical theory of order-disorder transitions in biological macromolecules. New York: Academic Press, 1970:797pp..
  10. Gotoh O, Tagashira Y. Stabilities of nearest neighbor doublets in double-helical DNA determined by fitting calculated melting profiles to observed profiles. Biopolymers 1981;20:1033-1042. [ISI]
  11. Cheadle JP, Goodchild MC, Meredith AL. Direct sequencing of the complete CFTR gene: the molecular characterisation of 99.5% of CF chromosomes in Wales. Hum Mol Genet 1993;2:1551-1556. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  12. Jones AC, Daniells CE, Snell RG, Tachataki M, Idziaszczyk SA, Krawczak M, et al. Molecular genetic and phenotypic analysis reveals differences between TSC1 and TSC2 associated familial and sporadic tuberous sclerosis. Hum Mol Genet 1997;6:2155-2161. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Jones AC, Shyamsundar MM, Thomas MW, Maynard J, Idziaszczyk SA, Tomkins S, et al. Comprehensive mutation analysis of TSC1 and TSC2 in 150 families with tuberous sclerosis. Am J Hum Genet 1999;64:1305-1315. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  14. Myers RM, Lumelski N, Lerman LS, Maniatis T. Detection of single base substitutions in total genomic DNA. Nature 1985;313:495-498. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  15. Hovig E, Smith-Sorensen B, Brogger A, Borresen AL. Constant denaturant gel electrophoresis, a modification of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, in mutation detection. Mutat Res 1991;262:63-71. [ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]



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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
I. Bourdeau, L. Matyakhina, S. G. Stergiopoulos, F. Sandrini, S. Boikos, and C. A. Stratakis
17q22-24 Chromosomal Losses and Alterations of Protein Kinase A Subunit Expression and Activity in Adrenocorticotropin-Independent Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2006; 91(9): 3626 - 3632.
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Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
L. Georgieva, V. Moskvina, T. Peirce, N. Norton, N. J. Bray, L. Jones, P. Holmans, S. MacGregor, S. Zammit, J. Wilkinson, et al.
Convergent evidence that oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2 (OLIG2) and interacting genes influence susceptibility to schizophrenia
PNAS, August 15, 2006; 103(33): 12469 - 12474.
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Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
R. Paylor, B. Glaser, A. Mupo, P. Ataliotis, C. Spencer, A. Sobotka, C. Sparks, C.-H. Choi, J. Oghalai, S. Curran, et al.
Tbx1 haploinsufficiency is linked to behavioral disorders in mice and humans: Implications for 22q11 deletion syndrome
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J Mol EndocrinolHome page
M. Crepin, P. Pigny, F. Escande, C. C. Bauters, A. Calender, S. Lefevre, M.-P. Buisine, N. Porchet, and M.-F. Odou
Evaluation of denaturing high performance liquid chromatography for the mutational analysis of the MEN1 gene.
J. Mol. Endocrinol., April 1, 2006; 36(2): 369 - 376.
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Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
T. R. Peirce, N. J. Bray, N. M. Williams, N. Norton, V. Moskvina, A. Preece, V. Haroutunian, J. D. Buxbaum, M. J. Owen, and M. C. O'Donovan
Convergent Evidence for 2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase as a Possible Susceptibility Gene for Schizophrenia
Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 18 - 24.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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J. Mol. Diagn.Home page
M. Hegde, M. Blazo, B. Chong, T. Prior, and C. Richards
Assay Validation for Identification of Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer-Causing Mutations in Mismatch Repair Genes MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6
J. Mol. Diagn., October 1, 2005; 7(4): 525 - 534.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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G Piluso, L Politano, S Aurino, M Fanin, E Ricci, V M Ventriglia, A Belsito, A Totaro, V Saccone, H Topaloglu, et al.
Extensive scanning of the calpain-3 gene broadens the spectrum of LGMD2A phenotypes
J. Med. Genet., September 1, 2005; 42(9): 686 - 693.
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Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
E. J. Chapman, P. Harnden, P. Chambers, C. Johnston, and M. A. Knowles
Comprehensive Analysis of CDKN2A Status in Microdissected Urothelial Cell Carcinoma Reveals Potential Haploinsufficiency, a High Frequency of Homozygous Co-deletion and Associations with Clinical Phenotype
Clin. Cancer Res., August 15, 2005; 11(16): 5740 - 5747.
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K. Seck, S. Riemer, R. Kates, T. Ullrich, V. Lutz, N. Harbeck, M. Schmitt, M. Kiechle, R. Diasio, and E. Gross
Analysis of the DPYD Gene Implicated in 5-Fluorouracil Catabolism in a Cohort of Caucasian Individuals
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B Yu, N A Sawyer, M Caramins, Z G Yuan, R B Saunderson, R Pamphlett, D R Richmond, R W Jeremy, and R J Trent
Denaturing high performance liquid chromatography: high throughput mutation screening in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and SNP genotyping in motor neurone disease
J. Clin. Pathol., May 1, 2005; 58(5): 479 - 485.
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Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.Home page
S. Jackson, M. Harland, F. Turner, C. Taylor, P. A. Chambers, J. Randerson-Moor, A. J. Swerdlow, I. dos Santos Silva, S. Beswick, D. T. Bishop, et al.
No Evidence for BRAF as a Melanoma/Nevus Susceptibility Gene
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., April 1, 2005; 14(4): 913 - 918.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Am. J. PsychiatryHome page
E. Green, G. Elvidge, N. Jacobsen, B. Glaser, I. Jones, M. C. O'Donovan, G. Kirov, M. J. Owen, and N. Craddock
Localization of Bipolar Susceptibility Locus by Molecular Genetic Analysis of the Chromosome 12q23-q24 Region in Two Pedigrees With Bipolar Disorder and Darier's Disease
Am J Psychiatry, January 1, 2005; 162(1): 35 - 42.
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R. Rej
Clinical Chemistry through Clinical Chemistry: A Journal Timeline
Clin. Chem., December 1, 2004; 50(12): 2415 - 2458.
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A Dempfle, A Hinney, M Heinzel-Gutenbrunner, M Raab, F Geller, T Gudermann, H Schafer, and J Hebebrand
Large quantitative effect of melanocortin-4 receptor gene mutations on body mass index
J. Med. Genet., October 1, 2004; 41(10): 795 - 800.
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Hum Mol GenetHome page
F. Fusco, T. Bardaro, G. Fimiani, V. Mercadante, M. G. Miano, G. Falco, A. Israel, G. Courtois, M. D'Urso, and M. V. Ursini
Molecular analysis of the genetic defect in a large cohort of IP patients and identification of novel NEMO mutations interfering with NF-{kappa}B activation
Hum. Mol. Genet., August 15, 2004; 13(16): 1763 - 1773.
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Arch Gen PsychiatryHome page
N. M. Williams, A Preece, D. W. Morris, G. Spurlock, N. J. Bray, M. Stephens, N. Norton, H. Williams, M. Clement, S. Dwyer, et al.
Identification in 2 Independent Samples of a Novel Schizophrenia Risk Haplotype of the Dystrobrevin Binding Protein Gene (DTNBP1)
Arch Gen Psychiatry, April 1, 2004; 61(4): 336 - 344.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Mol Hum ReprodHome page
G.H. Westerveld, J. Gianotten, N.J. Leschot, F. van derVeen, S. Repping, and M.P. Lombardi
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein G-T (HNRNP G-T) mutations in men with impaired spermatogenesis
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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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A. Canu, A. Abbas, B. Malbruny, F. Sichel, and R. Leclercq
Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Detection of Ribosomal Mutations Conferring Macrolide Resistance in Gram-Positive Cocci
Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., January 1, 2004; 48(1): 297 - 304.
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A. A. Bakkar, H. Wallerand, F. Radvanyi, J.-B. Lahaye, S. Pissard, L. Lecerf, J. C. Kouyoumdjian, C. C. Abbou, J.-C. Pairon, M.-C. Jaurand, et al.
FGFR3 and TP53 Gene Mutations Define Two Distinct Pathways in Urothelial Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder
Cancer Res., December 1, 2003; 63(23): 8108 - 8112.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]