protein truncation test, a method for detection of one or more translation termination mutations in a gene that cause a truncated, usually inactive, protein to be synthesized. The appropriate genomic DNA or mRNA is isolated, amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and used as a template for in vitro transcription and translation. The size of the resulting protein is compared with that of a wild type protein by means of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
