Rapid Detection of PAH Gene Mutations in Chinese People

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease, caused by the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency in the metabolic pathway, which prevents phenylalanine from being converted into tyrosine, leading to a large amount of phenylalanine discharged from the urine. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a simple, fast, accurate and reliable PKU molecular diagnostic method for clinical diagnosis.

Methods: We established a novel diagnostic method by combining a single-tube multiplex PCR technique with molecular hybridization technique. The method was verified by DNA sequencing technology. The established new technology successfully detected 9 common PAH gene mutations in the Chinese population.

Results: Double-blind analysis indicated that the diagnostic accuracy and specificity of the PKU sample were all 100%. Frequencies of single mutation R111X, R176X, Ex6-96A, R241C, R243Q, R252Q, Y356X, V399 V and R413P genotypes were 8, 0.5, 16.5, 1.5, 27, 4.5, 13, 10.5, 8.5% respectively.

Conclusions: The established method of combing single-tube multiplex PCR with molecular hybridization technology can accurately and rapidly detect PAH gene mutations in Chinese and is suitable for screening of large PKU populations with clinical samples.