Abstract
BackgroundThe polymorphism 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.1298A>C is associated with various diseases. 45 DNA samples homozygous for the A allele and 40 DNA probes homozygous for the C allele were taken from healthy German subjects of white Caucasian origin to analyze the haplotype of the two MTHFR c.1298A>C alleles. Samples were genotyped for the polymorphism MTHFR c.677C>T and for the silent polymorphisms MTHFR c.129C>T, IVS2 533 G>A, c.1068C>T and IVS10 262C>G.FindingsHaplotype construction revealed that the C-allele of MTHFR c.1298A>C was more frequently observed in cis with c.129T, IVS2 533A, c.677C, c.1068T, and IVS10 262 G than expected from normal distribution. Estimation of the most recent common ancestor with the DMLE + 2.3 program resulted in an estimated age of approximately 36,660 years of the MTHFR c.1298C allele.ConclusionGiven that the era from 30,000 to 40,000 years ago is characterised by the spread of modern humans in Europe and that the prevalence of the MTHFR c.1298C allele is significantly higher in Central Europe in comparison to African populations, a selective advantage of MTHFR c.1298C could be assumed, e. g. by adaption to changes in the nutritional environment. The known founder ancestry of the T allele of MTHFR c.677C>T allele, together with the present data suggests that the MTHFR mutant alleles c.677T and 1298C arose from two independent ancestral alleles, that both confer a selective advantage.
Highlights
The polymorphism 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.1298A>C is associated with various diseases. 45 DNA samples homozygous for the A allele and 40 DNA probes homozygous for the C allele were taken from healthy German subjects of white Caucasian origin to analyze the haplotype of the two MTHFR c.1298A>C alleles
Given that the era from 30,000 to 40,000 years ago is characterised by the spread of modern humans in Europe and that the prevalence of the MTHFR c.1298C allele is significantly higher in Central Europe in comparison to African populations, a selective advantage of MTHFR c.1298C could be assumed, e. g. by adaption to changes in the nutritional environment
The known founder ancestry of the T allele of MTHFR c.677C>T allele, together with the present data suggests that the MTHFR mutant alleles c.677T and 1298C arose from two independent ancestral alleles, that both confer a selective advantage
Summary
The polymorphism 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.1298A>C is associated with various diseases. 45 DNA samples homozygous for the A allele and 40 DNA probes homozygous for the C allele were taken from healthy German subjects of white Caucasian origin to analyze the haplotype of the two MTHFR c.1298A>C alleles. The polymorphism 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.1298A>C is associated with various diseases. The T-allele of the MTHFR polymorphism c.677C>T (A222V, rs1801133) is associated with reduced MTHFR activity and, with an increased total plasma homocysteine level [1]. The frequency of the T-allele of MTHFR c.677C>T differs between ethnic groups and ranges from 6-10% in African countries [2,3] to more than 17% in Caucasians in North America [1,4,5] and more than 50% in Mexican populations [3]. We report haplotype data on the c.1298A>C polymorphism in a healthy German population selected by the c.1298A>C genotype suggesting a founder allele in the late ancestry
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
