Small Amplicons High Resolution Melting Analysis (SA-HRMA) allows successful genotyping of acid phosphatase 1 (ACP1) polymorphisms in the Italian population

Abstract Background The ACP1 gene, encoding a low-molecular-weight phosphotyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP), has been suggested as a common genetic factor of several human diseases, including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, favism and tumors. For this reason, the ACP1 enzyme has been investigated by case–control studies for decades. Initially based on protein electrophoresis, the ACP1 phenotype is now determined by DNA-based techniques. Methods Here, we report a rapid optimized method which employs HRMA for ACP1 polymorphism identification, a molecular approach that we used to screen 80 healthy Italian subjects. Results HRMA proved particularly suitable for detecting ACP1 genotypes. In fact, HRMA results were 100% concordant with direct sequencing. In addition, ACP1 genotype frequency in the Italian population was in accordance with the literature [4% (*A/A), 36% (*A/B), 4% (*A/C), 50% (*B/B), 6% (*B/C)]. Conclusions HRMA was found to be a simple, rapid, sensitive and low cost method potentially useful in research and diagnostic laboratories. Finally, use of small amplicons for the set-up allowed us a better optimization of HRMA. For this reason, we present such an approach as small amplicons high resolution melting analysis (SA-HRMA). Finally, ACP1 genotype frequency in the Italian population reported in this study may contribute to a better interpretation of ACP1 allelic frequency variation.