RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze mutation of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene in a family affected with familial adenomatous polyposis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The diagnosis was made based on clinical manifestations, family history, presence of numerous polyps in the colon as well as pathological examination. Peripheral blood samples were collected, and genomic DNA was extracted. Potential mutation of the APC gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. After finding the mutation in the proband, the same mutation was screened among other family members. The mutation was also confirmed with PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), with which 100 unrelated healthy controls were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A novel heterozygous nonsense mutation c.2891T>G (L964X) of the APC gene was identified in this pedigree. The mutation has led to premature termination of translation. The same mutation was not detected among the 100 healthy controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The c.2891T>G (L964X) of the APC gene probably underlies the familial adenomatous polyposis in this pedigree. The combined DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP method is efficient and accurate for the diagnosis.</p>