α1-Antitrypsin deficiency detection by direct analysis of the mutation in the gene

Abstract
A deficiency in the plasma protease inhibitor .alpha.1-antitrypsin can cause chronic obstructive emphysema or infantile liver cirrhosis. This deficiency results from a single amino acid substitution created by a G to A transition in the gene for .alpha.1-antitrypsin. Chemically synthesized specific oligonucleotide probes (190-mer) were used to develop a sensitive and direct test for the presence or the mutant gene in any individual, which can be used for prenatal diagnosis of the deficiency syndrome.