Familial defective apolipoprotein B-100: detection and haplotype analysis of the Arg3500→Gln mutation in hyperlipidemic Chinese

Familial defective apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 (FDB) is caused by R3500Q mutation of the apo B gene resulting in decreased binding of LDL to the LDL receptor. Two other apo B mutations, R3500W and R3531C, affecting binding are known to date. We screened the apo B gene segment around codon 3500 by heteroduplex analysis and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis in a total of 373 hyperlipidemic individuals. Two single-base mutations were detected and confirmed by DNA sequencing. One mutation, ACA3528→ACG change, resulted in degenerate codon with no amino acid substitution. The other mutation, CGG3500→CAG mutation, resulted in an Arg3500→Gln substitution (R3500Q). The prevalence of heterozygote in this selected population was 0.3% (95% confidence interval, 0.01–1.5%) for the R3500Q mutation, and 2.4% (95% confidence interval, 1.1–4.5%) for the previously described R3500W mutation. The results suggest that the R3500Q mutation is not a significant factor contributing to moderate hypercholesterolemia in Chinese (P=0.027). Family studies of the R3500Q carrier revealed a further two individuals heterozygous for the mutation, both of whom were hypercholesterolemic. Analysis of the R3500Q allele using six diallelic markers and the 3′HVR marker revealed a haplotype which was the same as that reported in a Chinese American but differed from that reported in a Chinese Canadian. Our data support limited multiple recurrent origins for R3500Q in Chinese population.