Methods and compositions for vitamin K epoxide reductase

1. A method of identifying a human subject having increased sensitivity to warfarin, comprising detecting in a nucleic acid sample obtained from the subject the presence of an allele of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene, wherein the allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism is correlated with increased sensitivity to warfarin, thereby identifying the subject having increased sensitivity to warfarin, wherein the single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene is a G→C alteration at the position corresponding to nucleotide 2581 of SEQ ID NO:11.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said detecting comprises performing a nucleic acid amplification assay.

3. A method of determining a suitable dose of warfarin for a human subject, comprising detecting in a nucleic acid sample obtained from the subject the presence of an allele of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene, wherein the allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism is correlated with increased sensitivity to warfarin; and

identifying a suitable dose of warfarin for the subject based on said determining, wherein the allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene is a G→C alteration at the position corresponding to nucleotide 2581 of SEQ ID NO:11.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising administering warfarin to the subject at a dosage determined from said identifying.

5. A method of identifying a human subject having increased sensitivity to warfarin, comprising:

a) correlating the presence of an allele of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene with increased sensitivity to warfarin; and

b) detecting the allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism of step (a) in a nucleic acid sample obtained from the subject, thereby identifying the subject as having increased sensitivity to warfarin, wherein the allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene is a G→C alteration at the position corresponding to nucleotide 2581 of SEQ ID NO:11.

6. A method of amplifying a segment of a VKOR genomic nucleotide sequence, comprising:

a) choosing a first oligonucleotide primer from the 3′ end of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8;

b) choosing a second oligonucleotide primer from the 5′ end of a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8;

c) adding said first primer and said second primer to a nucleic acid sample; and

d) amplifying a segment of the VKOR genomic nucleotide sequence defined by the first primer and the second primer, wherein the amplified segment comprises an allele of a single nucleotide polymorphism that is correlated with increased sensitivity to warfarin, wherein the allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene is a G→C alteration at the position corresponding to nucleotide 2581 of SEQ ID NO:11 and wherein said nucleic acid sample is from a subject in need of warfarin therapy.

7. A method of amplifying a segment of a VKOR genomic nucleotide sequence, comprising:

a) choosing a first oligonucleotide primer from a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8;

b) choosing a second oligonucleotide primer from a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 that differs in nucleotide sequence from the first oligonucleotide primer;

c) adding said first primer and said second primer to a nucleic acid sample; and

d) amplifying a segment of the VKOR genomic nucleotide sequence defined by the first primer and the second primer, wherein the amplified segment comprises an allele of a single nucleotide polymorphism that is correlated with increased sensitivity to warfarin, wherein the allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene is a G→C alteration at the position corresponding to nucleotide 2581 of SEQ ID NO:11 and wherein said nucleic acid sample is from a subject in need of warfarin therapy.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein said detecting comprises performing a nucleic acid amplification assay.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein said detecting comprises performing a nucleic acid amplification assay.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said detecting comprises sequencing the VKOR gene at the position corresponding to nucleotide 2581 of SEQ ID NO:11.

11. The method of claim 3 , wherein said detecting comprises sequencing the VKOR gene at the position corresponding to nucleotide 2581 of SEQ ID NO:11.

12. The method of claim 5 , wherein said detecting comprises sequencing the VKOR gene at the position corresponding to 2581 of SEQ ID NO:11.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said detecting comprises performing a hybridization assay.

14. The method of claim 3 , wherein said detecting comprises performing a hybridization assay.

15. The method of claim 5 , wherein said detecting comprises performing a hybridization assay.