title: Citius and longius (faster and longer) with no alpha-actinin-3 in skeletal muscles?
abstract: The muscle protein alpha-actinin-3 (ACTN3) is normally thought to be expressed in type II muscle fibres and to be necessary for high-power, high-velocity muscle contractions, such as those typically seen in speed/power athletes. The authors report the case of a Spanish elite long jumper (two times Olympian, personal best of 8.26 m) whose genotype for the ACTN3 gene is 577XX (ACTN3 deficient). These data suggest that there might be notable exceptions to the concept that ACTN3 is the "gene for speed".
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain. alejandro.lucia@uem.es
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucia
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliván
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gómez-Gallego
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montil
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000378:metabolism*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014142:Track and Field / Q000502:physiology*