Restriction site generating-polymerase chain reaction (RG-PCR) for the probeless detection of hidden genetic variation: application to the study of some common cystic fibrosis mutations.

In this report we describe the use of a DNA amplification technique in which modified primers introduce a base substitution adjacent to the codon of interest and create an artificial restriction site for the detection of mutations which do not produce or modify a naturally occurring restriction site (restriction site generating-polymerase chain reaction, RG-PCR). RG-PCR was developed and applied to the screening in an Italian population sample of several relatively common cystic fibrosis mutations which are not amenable to analysis with a known restriction endonuclease: G542X, 2869insG, Y913C, N1303K, and 1717-1GA. This method, which allows the identification of virtually any single base change by restriction enzyme analysis and without the need for molecular probes, is rapid and easy to perform. The combined use of RG-PCR for several different CF mutations in multiplex tests further expands the advantages of this approach.