| abstract |
The present invention arises from the identification of an association between the TDOA gene and osteoarthritis (OA). Accordingly, the present invention provides a diagnostic technique for determining the susceptibility of patients who develop OA by detecting all or part of the TDOA gene, its precursor or its product (mRNA, cDNA, genomic DNA, or protein). About. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and materials for analyzing allelic variations of the TDOA gene, and the use of TDOA polymorphisms in identifying an individual's risk of developing OA. The TDOA protein was found to bind to α-paxillin, a protein involved in integrin signaling, a process that is itself strongly associated with OA. Thus, the present invention is also directed to methods for identifying modulators of OA that modulate the TDOA gene or interfere with TDOA: α-paxillin binding. |