Frequency of two human glutathione-S-transferase omega-1 polymorphisms (E155 deletion and E208K) in Ovambo and Japanese populations using the PCR-based genotyping method

Abstract

Background: Human glutathione S-transferase omega-1 (hGSTO1) has monomethylarsonate (MMA(v)) reductase activity. Recent study suggests that two polymorphisms (E155 deletion and E208K) in hGSTO1 can be related to inter-individual variations in inorganic arsenic metabolism. As useful PCR-based genotyping methods for these hGSTO1 polymorphisms are not available and data on hGSTO1 polymorphism in African and Asian populations are insufficient, the aim of the present study was to develop a PCR-based genotyping method for E155del and E208K, and to investigate the allele frequencies of these two polymorphisms in Ovambo and Japanese populations.

Methods: The E155del and E208K polymorphisms were detected using confronting two-pair primers analysis and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, respectively.

Results: Allele frequencies for the hGSTO1 polymorphisms were investigated in Ovambo (n=144) and Japanese (n=144) populations. For E155del, the mutation frequency in Ovambo and Japanese subjects was 0.000 and 0.017, respectively, similar to those for other populations. As for E208K polymorphism, no mutation allele was found in Ovambo or Japanese subjects.

Conclusions: The present study developed a PCR-based hGSTO1 genotyping method that could be applied to a large number of individuals at most locations.