title: Genetic studies of human apolipoproteins. XVI. APOE polymorphism and cholesterol levels in the Mayans of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
abstract: Structural variation at the APOE locus is a major determinant of interindividual differences in cholesterol levels in populations at large. We have determined APOE structural polymorphism and estimated its impact on total cholesterol in the Mayans of the Yucatan Peninsula from Mexico. A unique pattern of APOE allele frequency distribution was observed, with no example of the APOE*2 allele and a relatively low incidence (9%) of the APOE*4 allele, giving rise to the lowest average heterozygosity at the APOE locus observed to date. The reported elevating affect of the APOE*4 allele on cholesterol has been found to be absent in the Mayans; several possible explanations which may account for the absence of this affect are discussed. In addition to APOE the gene products of five other apolipoprotein loci were screened and low frequency variation, possibly due to European admixture, was observed in two systems (APOH and APOA-IV).
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Kamboh
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ferrell
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D053305:Apolipoprotein C-III; D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D053318:Apolipoprotein E3; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000235:genetics; D001056:Apolipoproteins C / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007198:Indians, North American; D008800:Mexico; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I
chemical_list: D053305:Apolipoprotein C-III; D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D053318:Apolipoprotein E3; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D001056:Apolipoproteins C; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D006023:Glycoproteins; C022205:apolipoprotein A-IV; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I; D002784:Cholesterol