FOXE1 gene mutation screening by multiplex PCR/DHPLC in CHARGE syndrome and syndromic and non-syndromic cleft palate.

Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) has established itself as one of the most powerful tools for DNA variation screening. FOXE1, a highly GC-rich gene involved in syndromic cleft palate, is under investigation in thyroid dysgenesis, nonsyndromic cleft palate and squamous cell carcinoma. A technique for fast and simultaneous detection of sequence variants in the entire coding region of the FOXEl gene based on multiplex PCR/DHPLC is presented here. Given its characteristics of high sensitivity and rapidity, the testing strategy developed by us appears to be a reliable approach for FOXE1 analysis in the screening of a large population at risk.