Simultaneous detection of Hb constant spring (α142, TAA>CAA, α2) and the α2 IVS-I donor site (-TGAGG) deletion by a simple polymerase chain reaction-based method in Iran

Hemoglobin. 2012;36(2):124-30. doi: 10.3109/03630269.2012.657728. Epub 2012 Feb 22.

Abstract

Hb Constant Spring (Hb CS, codon 142, TAA>CAA, α2) (HBA2:c.427T>C) and α2 IVS-I donor site (GAGGTGAGG>GAGG - - - - -) (HBA2:c.95+2_95+6delTGAGG) are nondeletional α-thalassemia (α-thal) mutations found all over the world. Identification of α-thal genotypes in at-risk couples for severe anemia or in highly heterogeneous populations requires rapid, accurate and cost-effective genotyping methods. In this study, a pair of primers were used to specifically amplify an 883 bp fragment from the α2-globin gene in order to simultaneously identify these two mutations by a PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) method. We determined the genotypic frequencies of Hb CS and the α2 IVS-I donor site mutations after amplification and enzymatic digestion with Tru9I in 238 northern Iranian samples referred for α-thal testing. Hb CS and the α2 IVS-I donor site mutations accounted for 21 (8.8%) and 29 (12.2%) of the nondeletional cases. This genotyping assay has proven to be a rapid, reliable and useful diagnostic tool for simultaneous detection of these two anomalies for genetic counseling or further prenatal diagnosis.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Codon
  • DNA Restriction Enzymes / genetics
  • DNA Restriction Enzymes / metabolism
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genotype
  • Genotyping Techniques
  • Hemoglobins, Abnormal / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Introns
  • Iran
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Point Mutation*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Sequence Deletion*
  • alpha-Globins / genetics*
  • alpha-Thalassemia* / diagnosis
  • alpha-Thalassemia* / genetics

Substances

  • Codon
  • Hemoglobins, Abnormal
  • alpha-Globins
  • Hemoglobin Constant Spring
  • DNA Restriction Enzymes