RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the distribution, frequency and structure of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in 3' region of apoB gene in Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood obtained under consent from randomly-chosen 522 individuals who came to the hospital for physical examination, and used to screen for polymorphisms of 3' VNTR of the apoB gene by employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, cloning and sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixteen types of alleles of apoB 3oVNTR were identified, among which heterozygotes were more than homozygotes. The biggest allele is HVE58, and the smallest one is HVE22. HVE34 had the highest frequency (40.4%), followed by HVE32 (34.7%). This showed significant difference from the allelic distribution of other populations (Caucasian and Swedish). Through sequencing of 60 alleles, a new isomer (Y-A=ATAATTAAATATTT) and four new types of alleles were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Chinese population we studied had a higher frequency of small alleles and showed a difference in allelic structure and frequency distribution from European and American in this populations.</p>