Secure and optimized detection of PNPLA3 rs738409 genotype by an improved PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphismmethod.

Abstract

The PNPLA3reference single-nucleotide polymorphism rs738409 has been identified as a predisposing factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. A simple method based on PCRandrestriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis had been published to detect the nonpathogenic allelePNPLA3 rs738409variant. The presence of the pathogenic variant was deduced by the indigestibility of the corresponding PCR product with BtsCI recognizing the nonpathogenic allele. However, one cannot exclude that an enzymatic reaction does not occur for other, more trivial, reasons. For safe and secure detection of the pathogenic PNPLA3 rs738409, we have further developed the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodby adding a second restriction enzyme digest, clearly identifying the correct PNPLA3 alleles and in particular the pathogenic variant.