Molecular Genetic Analysis of the Variable Number of Tandem-Repeat Alleles at the Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Gene in Iranian Azeri Turkish Population

Bagheri, Morteza; Abdi Rad, Isa; Hosseini Jazani, Nima; Zarrin, Rasou; Ghazavi, Ahad

doi:10.7508/ibj.2015.03.009

Molecular Genetic Analysis of the Variable Number of Tandem-Repeat Alleles at the Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Gene in Iranian Azeri Turkish Population

Authors

Morteza Bagheri

Isa Abdi Rad

Nima Hosseini Jazani

Rasou Zarrin

Ahad Ghazavi

دانشگاه

10.7508/ibj.2015.03.009

Abstract

Background: The variable numbers of tandem-repeat (VNTR) alleles at the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene have been used in carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis in phenylketonuria families. This study was carried out to analyze VNTR alleles at the PAH gene in Iranian Azeri Turkish population. Methods: In this study, 200 alleles from general population were studied by PCR. Results: The frequencies of VNTR alleles were 45%, 46%, 2%, 3%, 1%, and 3% in studied group regarding 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13 repeat copies, respectively. Statistically significant differences were not found between expected and observed frequencies of VNTR genotypes (P > 0.05). Conclusions: VNTR alleles with three and eight repeats were frequent, and the VNTR alleles with 13 repeats showed 3% frequency in the tested group. This study is the first report on tested population genetic structure using VNTR alleles at the PAH gene.

Keywords

Phenylalanine Hydroxylase

Population genetics

Variable numbers of tandem-repeat