Distribution of ADH2 and ALDH2 genotypes in different populations (original) (raw)

Summary

The distribution of the human liver alcohol dehydrogenase, ADH2, and aldehyde dehydrogenase, ALDH2, genotypes in 21 different populations comprising Mongoloids, Caucasoids, and Negroids was determined by hybridization of the amplified genomic DNA with allele-specific oligonucleotide probes. Whereas the frequency of the ADH 21 allele was found to be relatively high in the Caucasoids, Mexican Mestizos, Brazilian Indios, Swedish Lapps, Papua New Guineans and Negroids, the frequency of the ADH 22 gene was considerably higher in the Mongoloids and Australian Aborigines. The atypical ALDH2 gene (ALDH22) was found to be extremely rare in Caucasoids, Negroids, Papua New Guineans, Australian Aborigines and Aurocanians (South Chile). In contrast, this mutant gene was found to be widely prevalent among the Mongoloids. Individuals possessing the abnormal ALDH2 gene show alcohol-related sensitivity responses (e.g. facial flushing), have the tendency not to be habitual drinkers, and apparently suffer less from alcoholism and alcohol-related liver disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Humangenetik der Universität, Universität Hamburg, Butenfeld 32, W-2000, Hamburg 54, Germany
    H. W. Goedde, D. P. Agarwal, G. Fritze, D. Meier-Tackmann & S. Singh
  2. Department of Medical Genetics, University of Umea, Umea, Sweden
    G. Beckmann
  3. Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua, New Guinea
    K. Bhatia
  4. Cytogenetics Unit, Adelaide Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia
    L. Z. Chen
  5. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking, China
    B. Fang
  6. Department of Genetics, National Institute of Nutrition, Mexico City, Mexico
    R. Lisker
  7. Department of Genetics, Hanyang University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
    Y. K. Paik
  8. Department of Genetics, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
    F. Rothhammer
  9. Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, National University Hospital, Singapore
    N. Saha
  10. School of Health Sciences, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
    B. Segal
  11. Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
    L. M. Srivastava
  12. Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Hygiene, Budapest, Hungary
    A. Czeizel

Authors

  1. H. W. Goedde
  2. D. P. Agarwal
  3. G. Fritze
  4. D. Meier-Tackmann
  5. S. Singh
  6. G. Beckmann
  7. K. Bhatia
  8. L. Z. Chen
  9. B. Fang
  10. R. Lisker
  11. Y. K. Paik
  12. F. Rothhammer
  13. N. Saha
  14. B. Segal
  15. L. M. Srivastava
  16. A. Czeizel

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Goedde, H.W., Agarwal, D.P., Fritze, G. et al. Distribution of ADH2 and ALDH2 genotypes in different populations.Hum Genet 88, 344–346 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00197271

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