Understanding signatures of positive natural selection in human zinc transporter genes.

ABSTRACT: Zinc is an essential micronutrient with a tightly regulated systemic and cellular homeostasis. In humans, some zinc transporter genes (ZTGs) have been previously reported as candidates for strong geographically restricted selective sweeps. However, since zinc homeostasis is maintained by the joint action of 24 ZTGs, other more subtle modes of selection could have also facilitated human adaptation to zinc availability. Here, we studied whether the complete set of ZTGs are enriched for signals of positive selection in worldwide populations and population groups from South Asia. ZTGs showed higher levels of genetic differentiation between African and non-African populations than would be randomly expected, as well as other signals of polygenic selection outside Africa. Moreover, in several So

SUBMITTER: Roca-Umbert A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8918337 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature