GSTP1 c.313A>G polymorphism in Russian and Polish athletes

Physiol Genomics. 2017 Mar 1;49(3):127-131. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00014.2016. Epub 2017 Jan 6.

Abstract

The GSTP1 gene encodes glutathione S-transferase P1, which is a member of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), a family of enzymes playing an important role in detoxification and in the antioxidant defense system. There is some evidence indicating that GSTP1 c.313A>G polymorphism may be beneficial for exercise performance. Therefore, we decided to verify the association between the frequency of GSTP1 c.313A>G variants, physical performance, and athletes' status in two cohorts: in a group of Russian athletes (n = 507) and in an independent population of Polish athletes (n = 510) in a replication study. The initial association study conducted with the Russian athletes revealed that the frequency of the minor G allele was significantly higher in all athletes than in controls; that was confirmed in the replication study of Polish athletes. In the combined cohort, the differences between athletes (n = 1017) and controls (n = 1246) were even more pronounced (32.7 vs 25.0%, P < 0.0001). Our findings emphasize that the G allele of the GSTP1 gene c.313A>G single nucleotide polymorphism is associated with improved endurance performance. These observations could support the hypothesis that the GSTP1 G allele may improve exercise performance by better elimination of exercise-induced ROS.

Keywords: athletes; exercise performance; gene frequency/genetics; glutathione S-transferase; muscle; skeletal/metabolism.

MeSH terms

  • Athletes*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency / genetics
  • Glutathione S-Transferase pi / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Poland
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Russia
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • GSTP1 protein, human
  • Glutathione S-Transferase pi