title: Fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene influences skeletal muscle phenotypes in non-resistance trained males and elite rugby playing position.
abstract: FTO gene variants have been associated with obesity phenotypes in sedentary and obese populations, but rarely with skeletal muscle and elite athlete phenotypes.
  
  
  
  In 1089 participants, comprising 530 elite rugby athletes and 559 non-athletes, DNA was collected and genotyped for the FTO rs9939609 variant using real-time PCR. In a subgroup of non-resistance trained individuals (NT; n = 120), we also assessed structural and functional skeletal muscle phenotypes using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, ultrasound and isokinetic dynamometry. In a subgroup of rugby athletes (n = 77), we assessed muscle power during a countermovement jump.
  
  
  
  In NT, TT genotype and T allele carriers had greater total body (4.8% and 4.1%) and total appendicular lean mass (LM; 3.0% and 2.1%) compared to AA genotype, with greater arm LM (0.8%) in T allele carriers and leg LM (2.1%) for TT, compared to AA genotype. Furthermore, the T allele was more common (94%) in selected elite rugby union athletes (back three and centre players) who are most reliant on LM rather than total body mass for success, compared to other rugby athletes (82%; P = 0.01, OR = 3.34) and controls (84%; P = 0.03, OR = 2.88). Accordingly, these athletes had greater peak power relative to body mass than other rugby athletes (14%; P = 2 x 10-6).
  
  
  
  Collectively, these results suggest that the T allele is associated with increased LM and elite athletic success. This has implications for athletic populations, as well as conditions characterised by low LM such as sarcopenia and cachexia.
authors.affiliation: MMU Sports Genomics Laboratory, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, CW1 5DU, UK. shane.heffernan@stu.mmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.affiliation: MMU Sports Genomics Laboratory, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, CW1 5DU, UK.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Stebbings
authors.affiliation: A-STEM, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kilduff
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.|Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Erskine
authors.affiliation: MMU Sports Genomics Laboratory, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, CW1 5DU, UK.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: MMU Sports Genomics Laboratory, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, CW1 5DU, UK.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: McPhee
authors.affiliation: A-STEM, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.|School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vance
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Chronic Disease, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Northampton, Northampton, UK.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ribbans
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Chronic Disease, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Northampton, Northampton, UK.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Raleigh
authors.affiliation: Medical and Scientific Department, South African Rugby Union, Cape Town, South Africa.|Discipline of Sports Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: A-STEM, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: FIMS Reference Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine for Anti-Doping Research, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town (UCT), Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: FIMS Reference Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine for Anti-Doping Research, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Pitsiladis
authors.affiliation: MMU Sports Genomics Laboratory, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, CW1 5DU, UK.|Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO / Q000235:genetics*; D056352:Athletes; D005538:Football; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D055070:Resistance Training; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human
keywords: IRX3; Lean mass; RugbyGene project