Insertion-Deletion Polymorphism in the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Gene Among Sudanese, Somalis, Emiratis, and Omanis

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene in humans contains an insertion-deletion polymorphism in its intron 16. Because of its involvement with the renin-angiotensin system, the insertion-deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene has been widely investigated in different populations and in case-control studies. However, similar studies for Arab populations are limited in number. Therefore we have investigated the frequencies of the *I and *D alleles of the ACE gene among Sudanese, Somalis, and Arab nationals of the United Arab Emirates and Oman using previously described methods. Our data indicate a preponderance of the *D allele among the Arab and African populations studied (Sudanese, 0.64; Somalis, 0.73; Emiratis, 0.61; and Omanis, 0.71).

Genotypes and allele frequencies of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion polymorphism among Omanis

OBJECTIVE

To describe the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) genotype frequencies among Omani Arabs.

METHOD

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, based on separation of different size DNA fragments, was developed to test the presence or absence (polymorphism) of a small DNA deletion in the ACE gene. The subjects were 124 Omani Arab students of Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat.

RESULTS

The frequency of the I allele was 0.29, while that of the D allele was 0.71. The gene frequency distribution did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of D allele among Omanis is similar to that among other Arabs and Africans, but differs significantly from that among the Japanese and Chinese.