FAST 5-HOUR DETERMINATION OF ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME GENOTYPES FROM BLOOD BY SDS-PAGE USING PHASTSYSTEM

Polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been shown to correlate with circulating ACE concentrations in plasma, and also to be an independent risk factor in the development of many cardi ovascular diseases. However, methods available today for ACE genotypin g are still laborious and time-consuming. Here we report a sensitive, simple and non-isotopic procedure with commercially available gels for the identification of ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism, This techn ique includes rapid extraction of the DNA by the QIAamp Blood Kit prio r to polymerase chain reaction, followed by sodium dodecylsulphate pol yacrylamide gel electrophoresis using the PhastSystem (Pharmacia). The procedure can be accomplished in five hours from drawing the blood sa mples to the final result. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.