A simple and efficient method for apolipoprotein E genotype determination

Abstract

There is currently much interest in the role of apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype in late-onset Alzheimer's disease, and examination of this question involves the genotyping of large groups of cases. 1,2 Many of the studies have used the method of apoE genotyping described by Hixson and Vernier 3, which has the advantage of using a single restriction enzyme to identify two polymorphic sites. However, this method involves the separation of relatively small fragments (72, 83, and 91 bp) of DNA, necessitating the use of large polyacrylamide gels that need more expensive equipment and are more technically demanding than agarose gels. This is especially relevant when there is need to screen hundreds of dementia patients for apoE genotype. Furthermore, even when the assays are done by well-equipped laboratories, the results are sometimes ambiguous 4, and although the use of radioactive reagents may improve the quality of …