Guilherme JPLF, Oliveira EM. Increased prevalence of the null allele of the p.Arg577Ter variant in the ACTN3 gene in Brazilian long-distance athletes: A retrospective study.
Ann Hum Genet 2024. [PMID:
38949054 DOI:
10.1111/ahg.12571]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
The phenotypic consequences of the p.Arg577Ter variant in the α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) gene are suggestive of a trade-off between performance traits for speed and endurance sports. Although there is a consistent association of the c.1729C allele (aka R allele) with strength/power traits, there is still a debate on whether the null allele (c.1729T allele; aka X allele) influences endurance performance. The present study aimed to test the association of the ACTN3 p.Arg577Ter variant with long-distance endurance athlete status, using previously published data with the Brazilian population.
METHODS
Genotypic data from 203 long-distance athletes and 1724 controls were analysed in a case-control approach.
RESULTS
The frequency of the X allele was significantly higher in long-distance athletes than in the control group (51.5% vs. 41.4%; p = 0.000095). The R/X and X/X genotypes were overrepresented in the athlete group. Individuals with the R/X genotype instead of the R/R genotype had a 1.6 increase in the odds of being a long-distance athlete (p = 0.012), whereas individuals with the X/X genotype instead of the R/R genotype had a 2.2 increase in the odds of being a long-distance athlete (p = 0.00017).
CONCLUSION
The X allele, mainly the X/X genotype, was associated with long-distance athlete status in Brazilians.
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