Characterization and rapid analysis of the highly polymorphic VNTR locus D4S125 (YNZ32), closely linked to the Huntington disease gene.

The highly polymorphic VNTR locus pYNZ32 has been more extensively characterized, and its analysis converted to a rapid PCR-based format. DNA sequencing in the areas within and flanking the repeated segment allowed the design of specific amplification primers. The repeated region of pYNZ32 consists of an imperfectly duplicated 27-bp motif, 16 bases of which are more highly conserved. Allelic products from PCR amplification were resolved into nine different size classes ranging from approximately 1400 to 2200 bp. Additional polymorphism was revealed when the amplified products were analyzed by restriction enzyme digestion. Both the overall size variation and the internal sequence polymorphism were used to determine a heterozygosity value of 86% for YNZ32 in 50 unrelated individuals. The rapid analysis and improved resolution of amplified alleles on agarose gels, and the internal variability within YNZ32, increase its diagnostic utility as a VNTR and as a linkage marker for the nearby Huntington disease gene.