Automated, PCR-RFLP genotyping of the urokinase gene

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) has been suggested to play a role in the early initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD) (Grenett et al,, 1998). Recently, a common genetic polymorphism in the untranslated region of the Ic-PA gene was shown to be associated with syptomatic CAD. To study the possible role of this common genetic polymorphism in the Ic-PA gene, we have developed an automated, PCR-based assay. Automation of the PCR-RFLP genotyping of the BamHI polymorphism of the urokinase gene will support the screening of the large sample sizes required to do the population-based studies necessary to uncover disease susceptibility associations.