Positive and balancing selection on SLC18A1 gene associated with psychiatric disorders and human-unique personality traits.

ABSTRACT: Maintenance of genetic variants susceptible to psychiatric disorders is one of the intriguing evolutionary enigmas. The present study detects three psychiatric disorder-relevant genes (CLSTN2, FAT1, and SLC18A1) that have been under positive selection during the human evolution. In particular, SLC18A1 (vesicular monoamine transporter 1; VMAT1) gene has a human-unique variant (rs1390938, Thr136Ile), which is associated with bipolar disorders and/or the anxiety-related personality traits. 136Ile shows relatively high (20-61%) frequency in non-African populations, and Tajima's D reports a significant peak around the Thr136Ile site, suggesting that this polymorphism has been positively maintained by balancing selection in non-African populations. Moreo

SUBMITTER: Sato DX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6145502 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature