OBJECTIVETo detect the mutations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease gene 2(PKD2)in Chinese.

METHODSThe white blood cell genomic DNA from patients of 94 Chinese autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease(ADPKD) pedigrees was isolated and amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The PCR products were analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC). The samples with abnormal profiles were sequenced.

RESULTSEight mutations were identified, including 2 nonsense mutations, 2 deletion mutations,1 insertion mutation and 3 missense mutations. Two nonsense mutations occurred in exon 5(1249C-->T) and exon 13(2407C-->T),both resulted in a stop codon. The insertion was in exon 2(636-637 ins T),and the deletion mutations were in exons 12(2348-2351 del AGAA) and 13(2401 delete A),resulting in the reading frame shift. Three missense mutations were in exons 1(G568-->A),4(C964-->T),and 5(G1168-->A), which caused amino acid changes (190Ala-->Thr,322Arg-->Trp,390Gly-->Ser).

CONCLUSIONThe method of DHPLC was used in detecting mutations successfully and 8 mutations in PKD2 were identified. It will be useful in the molecular diagnosis of ADPKD in advance of the cysts formation and birth.