Genotyping of Macaque Population on the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Polymorphism by Mismatch Amplification Mutation Assay (MAMA)-PCR.

Human rs6265 (196G>A) polymorphism in the BDNF gene is associated with many clinically significant phenotypic manifestations. Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) has a functionally significant rs309950446 ( 136G>A) polymorphism. To determine this polymorphism in macaques, we used mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA)-PCR method with non-complementary nucleotide to the template chain at the 3rd position from the 3'-end of the allele-specific primers (mismatch primers), which allowed the best discrimination of the alleles. Genotyping of male rhesus monkeys (n=178) and cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) (n=90) was carried out. The A/A, G/G, and G/A genotypes were found in 16, 34, and 50% rhesus macaques, respectively. In the cynomolgus macaques, the mutant polymorphic allele was not detected. The study results allow considering rhesus macaques as a potential biological model for assessment of the gen-environment interaction of the BDNF gene polymorphism.