skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Differentiation of the glucocerebrosidase gene from pseudogene by long-template PCR: Implications for Gaucher disease

Journal Article · · American Journal of Human Genetics
OSTI ID:478523
; ;  [1]
  1. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (United States)

We describe the use of long-template PCR to differentiate the glucocerebrosidase gene from its pseudogene, which will simplify molecular diagnostic testing and the detection of known and new mutations in patients with Gaucher disease. Gaucher disease results from the inherited deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, glucocerebrosidase. Sixteen kilobases downstream of the glucocerebrosidase gene is a pseudogene, which is {approximately}2 kb shorter and has >96% identity to the coding regions of the functional gene. Many mutations encountered in Gaucher patients are identical to sequences ordinarily found only in the pseudogene, and some result from recombination between the gene and pseudogene. Thus, for diagnostic purposes it is essential to differentiate between sequences from the gene and pseudogene. 9 refs., 1 fig.

OSTI ID:
478523
Journal Information:
American Journal of Human Genetics, Vol. 59, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English