Background: The most common form of nonsyndromic neurosensory autosomal rec
essive deafness, DFNB1, is caused by mutations in the connexin 26 gene (GJB
2) on chromosome 13. One mutation, in which one guanosine (G) residue is de
leted from a run of 6 Gs (35delC), is found in 40% to 70% of DFNB1 cases an
d has an expected population frequency of one in 40 to one in 100.
Methods and Results: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tests for the 35
delG mutation were developed. They are based on mismatched PCR primers that
produce novel EcoRII or DdeI restriction enzyme sites depending on the num
ber of Gs at the 35delG locus. An EcoRII site is generated in the wild-type
sequence (6 Gs), but not when the 35delG mutation is present. Alternativel
y, a DdeI site can be generated so that this enzyme cuts the PCR product wh
en the 35delG mutation is present, but not the wild-type sequence.
Conclusions: These tests enable a quick and reliable screen for the common
35delG mutation.