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 V·O_2max. 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., G_rs1937-A_rs2306604-G_rs1049432 (49 %), G_rs1937-G_rs2306604-G_rs1049432 (33 %) and C_rs1937-G_rs2306604-T_rs1049432 (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 V·O_2max 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.

Key words

mitochondrial transcription factor A - genotype - V·O_2max - running economy - training - haplotype

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