Simultaneous detection of ACP1 and GC genotypes using PCR/SSCP

The classical enzyme and protein markers ACP1 and GC have gained new importance because of the biological functions of their gene products. ACPI encodes a low molecular weight enzyme which is now recognized as a phosphotyrosine phosphatase with a role in the regulation of signal transduction pathways, and GC-globulin acts both as a transporter of vitamin D and as a plasma actin scavenger and plays a role in macrophage activation. These two polymorphisms were phenotyped for decades on the basis of electrophoretic isozyme or protein patterns; the gene structures are now known. Nucleotide substitutions determining the common alleles are close enough at each locus to be contained in one short PCR product. We have developed a simple, rapid and reliable multiplex method based on PCR and SSCP which allows the simultaneous determination of the common ACPI and GC genotypes.