AUTHOR=Wei Qi 

TITLE=ACE and ACTN3 Gene Polymorphisms and Genetic Traits of Rowing Athletes in the Northern Han Chinese Population

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.736876

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2021.736876

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>This investigation aimed to explore the effects of <italic>ACE</italic> I/D and <italic>ACTN3</italic> R577X gene polymorphisms on specific quantitative variables, including height, weight, arm span, biacromial breadth, forced vital capacity (FVC), FVC/weight, maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2</sub>max), prone bench pull (PBP), loaded barbell squat (LBS), and 3,000-m run, in 243 Chinese rowing athletes. The <italic>ACE</italic> and <italic>ACTN3</italic> genotypes were obtained for each athlete <italic>via</italic> polymerase chain reaction on saliva samples, and the genotype frequency was analyzed. The <italic>ACE</italic> genotype frequency of rowing athletes were 45.8% II, 42.2% ID, and 12% DD for males and 33.6% II, 48% ID, and 18.4% DD for females. There were significant differences in weight in male athletes, PBP in female athletes, and <italic>ACE</italic> genotypes. A linear regression analysis using PBP and LBS as different dependent variables and <italic>ACE</italic> genotypes as independent variables based on the <italic>ACE</italic> I allele additive genetic effect showed a statistical significance in female athletes (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). There was a significant difference in the distribution of the three genotypes among male athletes (36.7% XX, 38.5% RX, and 24.8% RR, <italic>χ</italic>2 = 5.191, df = 2, <italic>p</italic> = 0.022 &lt; 0.05). There were no significant differences in the distribution of the three genotypes among female athletes (23.8% XX, 47.8% RX, 28.4% RR, <italic>χ</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.24, df = 2, <italic>p</italic> = 0.619 &gt; 0.05). The <italic>ACTN3</italic> gene polymorphism of male rowing athletes was dominated by the <italic>ACTN3</italic> 577X allele. There were significant differences in the <italic>χ</italic><sup>2</sup> test between groups of male athletes. The <italic>ACTN3</italic> R577 allele was dominant in female athletes. There were significant differences between PBP and FVC/body weight and <italic>ACTN3</italic> genotypes in male athletes by ANOVA, respectively (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). A linear regression analysis using FVC and FVC/body weight as dependent variables and <italic>ACTN3</italic> genotypes as independent variables based on the <italic>ACTN3</italic> 577X allele recessive genetic effect showed statistical significance in male athletes (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). These results suggested that <italic>ACE</italic> and <italic>ACTN3</italic> gene polymorphisms may be used as biomarkers of genetic traits in Chinese rowing athletes.</p>