Molecular probes for identification of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 gene polymorphisms for Gilbert's syndrome diagnosis

The T-3279G mutation in Phenobarbital Responsive Enhancer Modulein (PBREM), TA-insertion in the TATA box, creating the A(TA)7TAA motif instead of the A(TA)6TAA, and G211A mutation in coding exon 1, particularly in Asians, of human UGT1A1 (UDP-glucoronosyltransferase) gene are the three common polymorphisms of Gilbert’s syndrome. This article employed dot blot hybridization to detect the T-3279G, A(TA)6/7TAA and G211A mutation of UGT1A1 gene in 15 patients. In the dot blot hybridization assay, PCR products were denatured and spotted on positively charged nylon membranes instead of acrylamide-modified slides. Then three pairs of probes were labeled by digoxigenin and hybridized with the spotted array. After hybridization, the signal was visualized using TMB color development solution and all possible polymorphisms of the T-3279G, A(TA)6/7TAA and G211A in 15 Chinese patients with hyperbilirubinemia were successfully identified. The results of 15 samples by dotblot hybridization were consistent with the sequencing results. The data showed that dot blot hybridization assay is a quick and low cost method to detect UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms and helpful to diagnosis of Gilbert’s syndrome