Salivary proline-rich protein polymorphisms in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore

Salivary proline-rich protein (PRP) polymorphism, PRH1, PRH2, Ps, Pm (PmF), PmS and Gl, were investigated in three ethnic groups in Singapore: Chinese, Malays and Indians. The phenotype and gene frequencies were presented and comparison with other ethnic groups was made. The As protein, which was recently found in Japanese but not in Caucasians as a new allelic product of the PRH1 locus, was also observed in Chinese and Malays but not in Indians. Another allelic product (Ps4) of Ps protein polymorphism was found in Malays but not in Chinese and Indians. The results indicate the usefulness of salivary PRP polymorphism as markers in population genetic studies.