Dystrophin point mutation screening using a multiplexed protein truncation test

We report here the first use of a multiplexed protein truncation test for the high throughput screening of dystrophin point mutations. We have developed a substantially more robust and efficient procedure incorporating large savings in cost which uses muscle biopsy or lymphocyte total RNA as the template. The entire dystrophin open reading frame is screened in only five overlapping fragments using a long RT-PCR strategy to amplify dystrophin cDNA in excess of 3.7 kb. These five fragments are uniquely transcribed and translated in vitro in a single multiplexed reaction containing magnesium ions to reduce nonspecific internal initiation of translation. We have used this system to analyze mutations in 11 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients (10 unrelated) with previously uncharacterized mutations. A single truncating mutation was identified in all patients, which was confirmed at the genomic level. Multiplex PTT provides the most efficient method for point mutation screening in this large gene and has potential applications to several disease genes with a significant proportion of truncating mutations.