Rapid detection of the Wilson's disease H1069Q mutation by melting curve analysis with the LightCycler

Wilson's disease is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder of copper transport characterized by progressive copper accumulation in the liver and the central nervous system. The disease is caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene. Although many different mutations in this gene were described, a substitution of a histidine by a glutamine residue at codon 1069 (H1069Q) accounts for approximately 30-60% of all mutations in Caucasian patients. We describe a DNA-based method using fluorescence resonance energy transfer probes on the LightCycler for rapid determination of the common H1069Q mutation in the ATP7B gene. We screened 53 patients with Wilson's disease for the H1069Q mutation by the melting curve analysis. The reliability and discriminating power of this technique were documented by comparing results of the LightCycler assay with direct DNA sequencing. The protocol allows genotyping of 30 samples in less than 1 hour without a need for restriction enzyme digestion or gel electrophoresis.