Alanine aminotransferase polymorphism in Finnish Lapps and Finns from Northeast Finland

Abstract

Alanine aminotransferase (AIAT) polymorphism was studied in 595 Finnish Lapps and in 339 Finns from Northeast Finland by starch gel electrophoresis. The four Lapp groups studied differed significantly from each other with regard to their AIAT1 allele frequencies, and showed a decreasing AIAT1 allele frequency towards the east. The most western Lapp group, the Inari Mountain Lapps, showed the highest AIAT1 allele frequency (0.653) resembling the Norwegian Lapps. The most eastern group, the Skolt Lapps, showed the lowest (0.412) AIAT1 allele frequency encountered in Europe. The Finnish population sample showed an AIAT1 allele frequency typical to Caucasian populations, except for a high AIAT1 allele frequency found in the small northern-most group. No rare alleles were found. The family material included 37 Lapp families with 82 children. After addition of pyridoxal phosphate the technique for the AIAT typing has proved reliable and fully reproducible, constituting one of the most informative polymorphic red cell enzymes in forensic genetics.