Natural selection and population history in the human angiotensinogen gene (AGT): 736 complete AGT sequences in chromosomes from around the world.

ABSTRACT: Several lines of evidence suggest that patterns of genetic variability in the human angiotensinogen gene (AGT) contribute to phenotypic variability in human hypertension. The A(-6) promoter variant of AGT is associated with higher plasma angiotensinogen levels and increased risk of essential hypertension. The geographic distribution of the A(-6) variant leads to the intriguing hypothesis that the G(-6) promoter variant has been selectively advantageous outside Africa. To test these hypotheses, we investigated the roles of population history and natural selection in shaping patterns of genetic diversity in AGT, by sequencing the entire AGT gene (14400 bp) in 736 chromosomes from Africa, Asia, and Europe. We found that the A(-6) variant is present at higher frequency in African populations t

SUBMITTER: Nakajima T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1181984 | biostudies-literature | 2004 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature