The gene for the Lp(a)-specific glycoprotein is closely linked to the gene for plasminogen on chromosome 6.

We have studied the segregation of the Lp(a) glycoprotein phenotypes and of the plasminogen (PLG) polymorphism in three two-generation families. The inheritance of the Lp(a) gene was followed using the Lp(a) glycoprotein size polymorphism and that of the plasminogen gene, using protein and DNA polymorphisms. In the three families studied, no recombination was observed in 18 meioses. The lod score for linkage between the Lp(a) glycoprotein locus and the plasminogen locus in these families is greater than 5.0 at a recombination fraction of theta = 0. Our results show that the structural gene for the Lp(a) glycoprotein is closely linked to the gene for plasminogen on chromosome 6.