Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (
BDNF) plays a critical role in the growth, differentiation and survival of neurons in the CNS. Recent research has suggested that
BDNF may be implicated in the etiology of
mood disorders and
schizophrenia, as well as in the therapeutic action of some drugs, such as
antidepressants and
antipsychotics. This study aimed to develop a simple, fast and accurate new method for detecting the Val66Met polymorphism of the
BDNF gene in
schizophrenia patients using melting-curve analysis and
a DNA-specific
dye,
SYBR Green I. A group of 30
schizophrenia patients were analyzed to detect the
BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) using the new genotyping method based on the analysis of fluorescence melting curves of PCR products that were labeled with
SYBR Green I. The genotype results were confirmed for all 30 samples using the specific
BDNF TaqMan allele discrimination assay. This new method allows the analysis of both alleles in the same reaction tube using
SYBR Green I, with no need for additional steps. The addition of a GC clamp makes this method universally applicable, since the melting temperature of one allele can be adjusted as necessary to give the distinctive separation of melting curves. Therefore, this new method is simple, fast and accurate for determining the presence of the
BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. It may also be useful for the analysis of other SNPs in pharmacogenetic studies.