Different instability of the CAG microsatellite in two haplotype groups of human mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma

Abstract

Two single nucleotide polymorphisms of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma gene (POLG1), rs2238296 (T/C) and rs758130 (T/C), were analyzed in individuals of different ethnicity (Russians and Buryats) with known genotypes of the CAG microsatellite located in the same gene. It was shown that microsatellite alleles with repeat numbers other than 10 were significantly more frequent within the TT haplotype. A phylogenetic analysis of human and chimpanzee POLG1 intron 2 sequences suggested that the haplotype TT, which is more heterogeneous regarding the CAG repeat polymorphism, is evolutionally younger than the haplotype CC. These data may be useful in the further research of the association between the CAG microsatellite polymorphism of POLG1 and male infertility. © 2009 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.