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Association Between rs1815739 Polymorphism of ACTN3 Gene and Athletic Ability in Chinese Sprinters

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphism and to study its association with athletes’ level of competition and lower-extremity power.

Method

Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques were employed to identify the ACTN3 rs1815739 genotypes and allele frequencies in 108 elite sprinters and 206 untrained controls. Questionnaires were then used to assess subjects’ 100 m sprint, standing jump (SJ) and standing triple jump (STJ) personal best record.

Results

(1) The RR, RX and XX genotype distribution of the ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphism is 42.6%, 49.1%, 8.3%, respectively. R and X alleles frequency is 67.1% and 32.9%, respectively, which comply with Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) through Chi-square (χ2) tests (χ2 = 0.661; df = 2; P = 0.718). (2) Significant differences were found in R allele frequency between the elite sprinter group and controls. (3) The athletes’ 100 m sprint, SJ, and STJ personal best records were better in those with RR and RX than XX genotype. A significant association was observed between the R alleles and 100 m sprint, SJ, and STJ results of male and female athletes.

Conclusion

The present results indicate that ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphism has a significant association with speed and lower-extremity power in sprint/power athletes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Bei**g Sport University reseach labs for the help with experimental data collection and the financial support from Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

Funding

This work was supported by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant 2017SYS001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of PE, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Wenjia Chen

  2. Bei**g Sport University, Bei**g, 100084, China

    Biyu Zhang, Yanchun Li & Tseching Liang

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  1. Wenjia Chen
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  2. Biyu Zhang
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Correspondence to Tseching Liang.

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We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled.

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Chen, W., Zhang, B., Li, Y. et al. Association Between rs1815739 Polymorphism of ACTN3 Gene and Athletic Ability in Chinese Sprinters. J. of SCI. IN SPORT AND EXERCISE 2, 113–119 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-020-00058-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42978-020-00058-1

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