Polymorphism and distribution of the Secretor alpha(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene in various Taiwanese populations.
BACKGROUND
The Secretor gene (Se or FUT2), which produces alpha(1,2)-fucosyltransferase, exhibits extensive polymorphism. Six Se genes, including the weak Se (Se(w) or Se385) and three nonsecretor alleles (se571, se685, and se849) have been detected in various populations of Taiwan. The distribution of various Lewis phenotypes among the Taiwanese population groups has been shown to vary considerably.


METHODS
A PCR-RFLP analysis system, which was based on the nucleotide polymorphism variation of the different Se alleles and which can reveal the Se genotype of an individual easily and accurately, was developed. The distribution of the Se alleles among Taiwanese population groups, including the two major populations, Minnan and Hakka Taiwanese, and 11 indigenous groups, was analyzed by the method.


RESULTS
Frequencies of the Se alleles among the Taiwanese populations were revealed. The distribution of the nonsecretor alleles, especially se849, showed a marked variation. A good correlation was observed between a person's Se genotype and Lewis phenotype.


CONCLUSIONS
The Se genes have a polymorphic distribution among various Taiwanese populations, and this agrees with previous results for Lewis phenotype distributions. The Se(w) allele and the three se alleles are responsible for the Le(a+b+) and Le(a+b-) phenotypes, respectively.
Yu
L C
LC
Transfusion Medicine Research Laboratory, the Immunohematology Reference Laboratory, and the Blood Bank, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chu
C C
CC
Chan
Y S
YS
Chang
C Y
CY
Twu
Y C
YC
Lee
H L
HL
Lin
M
M
D005647:Fucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013624:Taiwan; D000097631:Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase
D005647:Fucosyltransferases; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens; D000097631:Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase