title: Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) genotypes in Africans: the identification of a new allele with nucleotide changes 481C>T and 590G>A.
abstract: This study was carried out to characterize the distribution of NAT2 allelic variants among a sample of three African populations. We determined the frequencies of major NAT2 allele clusters (NAT2*4, *6, *7 and *14) using PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing techniques. The genotypes predict slow acetylator phenotypes of 49, 38 and 52% among Tanzanians, Venda and Zimbabweans, respectively. The most common genotype was NAT2*4/*5. NAT2* 5 was the most common allele while NAT2* 7 was the least common. A new allele with two base changes occurring together, 481C>T and 590G>A, is reported. The frequency of the occurrence of the combination 481C>T and 590G>A, was found to be 9% (30/326), 7% (14/192) and 8% (18/234) among Zimbabweans, Venda and Tanzanians, respectively. The allele has been named NAT2*6E. Among Africans, the change 481C>T is not only associated with 341C>T (i.e. the NAT2* 5 allele cluster) as in other populations, but also with 590G>A on the same allele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. collet@xenobiot.icon.co.zw
authors.forename: Collet
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dandara
authors.forename: Collen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Masimirembwa
authors.forename: Ayoub
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magimba
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaaya
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sayi
authors.forename: De K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Sommers
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Snyman
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hasler
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000483:Alleles; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D017354:Point Mutation; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015183:Restriction Mapping
chemical_list: D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase