A Distinctive Pattern of Diversity for the TAS2R38 Gene in North Africa

Document Type

Article

Authors

Soufia Mourali-Chebil, University of Tunis El Manar, TunisiaFollow
Sarra Elkamel, University of Tunis El Manar, TunisiaFollow
Sami Boussetta, University of Tunis El ManarFollow
Andrew J. Pakstis, Yale University School of Medicine, New HavenFollow
Kenneth K. Kidd, Yale University School of Medicine, New HavenFollow
Amel Benammar-Elgaaied, University of Tunis El ManarFollow
Lotfi Cherni, University of Tunis El Manar and High Institute of Biotechnology, University of Monastir,Follow

Abstract

The TAS2R38 gene is involved in bitter taste perception. This study documents the distinctive diversity patterns in northern Africa of functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs713598 and rs1726866 at the TAS2R38 locus and places those patterns in the context of global TAS2R38 diversity. Data previously genotyped with TaqMan assay were analyzed for rs713598 and rs1726866 for 375 unrelated subjects (305 Tunisians from seven locations: Mahdia, Sousse, Kesra, Nebeur, Kairouan, Smar, and Kerkennah; plus 70 Libyans). Data were analyzed to present haplotypes and genotypes before comparison with data from worldwide populations. This study provides information about TAS2R38 diversity in a part of the world that is relatively understudied. Considering the two SNPs rs713598 and rs1726866, the CA nucleotide haplotype leading to the PV amino acid haplotype is extremely rare almost everywhere, but it is relatively frequent (between 6% and 15%) in northern Africa, where it coexists with the globally common amino acid haplotypes PA, AA, and AV. Given its higher frequency in North Africa, the authors propose the CA nucleotide haplotype as a biogeographic marker for forensic purposes.

Recommended Citation

Mourali-Chebil, Soufia; Elkamel, Sarra; Boussetta, Sami; Pakstis, Andrew J.; Kidd, Kenneth K.; Benammar-Elgaaied, Amel; and Cherni, Lotfi (2021) "A Distinctive Pattern of Diversity for the TAS2R38 Gene in North Africa," Human Biology: Vol. 93: Iss. 3, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol93/iss3/2