title: ACTN3 R577X polymorphism is not associated with team sport athletic status in Italians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ACTN3 gene may influence performance in team sports, in which sprint action and high-speed movements, regulated by the anaerobic energy system, are crucial to the ultimate success of a match. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the ACTN3 R577X (rs1815739) polymorphism and elite team sport athletic status in Italian male athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the genotype and allele frequency of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism between team sport athletes (n = 75), endurance athletes (n = 40), sprint/power athletes (n = 64), and non-athletic healthy controls (n = 192) from Italy. Genomic DNA was collected using a buccal swab. Extraction was performed according to the manufacturer's directions provided with a commercially available kit (Qiagen S.r.l., Milan, Italy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Team sport athletes showed a lower frequency of the 577RR genotype compared to the 577XX genotype than sprint/power athletes (p = 0.044). However, the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was not associated with team sport athletic status compared to endurance athletes and non-athletic controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results agree with a recent large-scale study involving athletes from Spain, Poland, and Russia. The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism was not associated with team sport athletic status compared to endurance athletes and non-athletic controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, SS 554, km 4.500, Monserrato, 09042, Italy. myosotis.massidda@unica.it.
authors.forename: Myosotis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massidda
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, SS 554, km 4.500, Monserrato, 09042, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bachis
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, SS 554, km 4.500, Monserrato, 09042, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corrias
authors.affiliation: FMSI CR Sardegna and Cagliari Calcio SpA, Viale Tiziano, Cagliari, 70-00196, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.affiliation: FMSI CR Sardegna and Cagliari Calcio SpA, Viale Tiziano, Cagliari, 70-00196, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scorcu
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, SS 554, km 4.500, Monserrato, 09042, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Culigioni
authors.affiliation: University of Cassino, Viale dell'Università, Cassino, 03043, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, SS 554, km 4.500, Monserrato, 09042, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Calò