Technical note: determination of alleles of the ovine PRNP gene using PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis

Susceptibility to scrapie in sheep is linked to variation at codons 136, 154, and 171 in the host prion protein gene (PRNP). A number of techniques are available for detecting these polymorphisms, but none allow for a rapid and accurate determination of genotype. Here we describe PCR coupled with single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, which allows for the accurate identification of ovine PRNP alleles. A gene region including codons 136 to 171 was amplified by PCR, and the amplimers were then denatured and subjected to electrophoresis in a nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel. Nine unique SSCP patterns, representing nine different alleles of the ovine PRNP gene, could be resolved. A new polymorphism (I/T) at codon 142 also was detected. The profiles produced by SSCP allowed for the accurate differentiation of PRNP alleles and could be employed to genotype PRNP in sheep.