Mutation screening in KCNQ1, HERG, KCNE1, KCNE2 and SCN5A genes in a long QT syndrome family

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Long QT syndrome (LQTS), an inherited cardiac arrhythmia, is a disorder of ventricular repolarisation characterised by electrocardiographic abnormalities and the onset of torsades de pointes leading to syncope and sudden death. Genetic polymorphisms in 5 well-characterised cardiac ion channel genes have been identified to be responsible for the disorder. The aim of this study is to identify disease-causing mutations in these candidate genes in a LQTS family.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>The present study systematically screens the coding region of the LQTS-associated genes (KCNQ1, HERG, KCNE1, KCNE2 and SCN5A) for mutations using DNA sequencing analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mutational analysis revealed 7 synonymous and 2 non-synonymous polymorphisms in the 5 ion channel genes screened.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We did not identify any clear identifiable genetic marker causative of LQTS, suggesting the existence of LQTS-associated genes awaiting discovery.</p>