A rapid screening method for a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in thehuman MOR gene

Aims Genetic association Studies have suggested chat the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 118 of the human mu -opioid receptor (MOR) g ene could be a potential risk Factor For drug treatment variability in pati ents. Therefore, we wanted to develop a fast and reliable detection method for this SNP which is applicable in a clinical setting. Methods To detect the polymorphism at position A118-->G in the human MOR, g ene we used the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-PCR technique with subsequent melting curve analysis. Results The polymorphism at position A118-->G in the human MOR gene could b e clearly discriminated with melting peak temperatures of 69.8 degrees C an d 63.8 degrees C, corresponding to the wild type and mutated MOR allele, re spectively. The results from FRET-PCR were validated by sequencing and rest riction-fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Screening of blood samples fro m 100 subjects showed an allelic distribution for the human MOR alleles of 79% homozygous wild type). 20% (heterozygous) and 0.9% (homozygous mutated) . Conclusions The FRET-PCR protocol for detection of the human MOR gene polym orphism at position 118 offers a rapid and reliable method which could be u sed for population screening of this and other genes.