Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) genotypes in Africans (original) (raw)

This study was carried out to characterize the distribution of NAT2 allelic variants among a sample of three African populations. We determined the frequencies of major NAT2 allele clusters (NAT2 à 5, à 6, à 7 and à 14) using PCR/ restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing techniques. The genotypes predict slow acetylator phenotypes of 49, 38 and 52% among Tanzanians, Venda and Zimbabweans, respectively. The most common genotype was NAT2 à 4/ à 5. NAT2 à 5 was the most common allele while NAT2 à 7 was the least common. A new allele with two base changes occurring together, 481C>T and 590G>A, is reported. The frequency of the occurrence of the combination 481C>T and 590G>A, was found to be 9% (30/326), 7% (14/192) and 8% (18/234) among Zimbabweans, Venda and Tanzanians, respectively. The allele has been named NAT2 à 6E. Among Africans, the change 481C>T is not only associated with 341C>T (i.e. the NAT2 à 5 allele cluster) as in other populations, but also with 590G>A on the same allele. Pharmacogenetics