Molecular genetic analysis of the variable number of tandem-repeat alleles at the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in Iranian azeri Turkish population

The variable numbers of tandem-repeat (VNTR) alleles at the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH)
gene have been used in carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis in phenylketonuria families. This study was carried
out to analyze VNTR alleles at the PAH gene in Iranian Azeri Turkish population. Methods: In this study, 200
alleles from general population were studied by PCR. Results: The frequencies of VNTR alleles were 45%, 46%,
2%, 3%, 1%, and 3% in studied group regarding 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13 repeat copies, respectively. Statistically
significant differences were not found between expected and observed frequencies of VNTR genotypes (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: VNTR alleles with three and eight repeats were frequent, and the VNTR alleles with 13 repeats
showed 3% frequency in the tested group. This study is the first report on tested population genetic structure using
VNTR alleles at the PAH gene