Relationship between TFAM gene polymorphisms and endurance capacity in response to training

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore whether polymorphisms in mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) gene are associated with endurance capacity in a pretraining state (baseline) and/or in response to a supervised 18-wk endurance training (changes) in 102 young Chinese males (nonathletes). Phenotypes measured were running economy (RE) and V̇O2max. Genomic DNA was extracted from white blood cells and the genotypes were analyzed by PCR-RFLP in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs1937, rs2306604 and rs1049432. Genotype distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at three loci (p > 0.05). When the three polymorphisms were considered together, three haplotypes were estimated, i.e., Grs1937-Ars2306604-Grs1049432 (49%), Grs1937-Grs2306604-Grs1049432 (33%) and Crs1937-Grs2306604-Trs1049432 (18%). SNPrs1937 and rs1049432 achieved near complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) (D′ = 1 and r2 = 0.903). We found no significant differences in baseline levels of V̇O2max and RE between TFAM genotypes or haplotypes. Similarly, we found no differences for the training-induced changes of both variables. It was concluded that the three polymorphisms in TFAM gene rs1937, rs2306604 and rs1049432 do not predict endurance capacity/trainability, at least in Chinese males. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart.