| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

MTHFR

This version was saved 14 years, 1 month ago View current version     Page history
Saved by Administrator
on February 11, 2010 at 6:49:05 am
 

DIYgenomics citizen science experiments - MTHFR mutations and Vitamin B12 deficiency

Back to DIYgenomics 

 

A. Background

As a proof of concept for DIYgenomics citizen science, this study seeks to replicate and extend existing studies to examine mutations in the MTHFR gene, investigate the potential corresponding phenotype, Vitamin B12 deficiency, and determine if vitamin supplementation or other remedies may improve the deficiency. Coordinating investigators: Melanie Swan, Raymond McCauley 

 

B. Methodology and Findings

Genotyping values are sought from citizen science participants. Participants that are homozygous and perhaps heterozygous for risk variants will be asked to take a blood test to assess B12 deficiency. Questionnaires are employed to ask participants about Vitamin B12 deficiency. Participants with Vitamin B12 deficiency may begin a vitamin supplementation program or other remedies which are self-tracked with additional blood tests after 3, 6 and 12 months.

 

1. Gene mutation: MTHFR (Source: Wikipedia: MTHFRMethylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MTHFR gene.

 

C677T SNP (Ala222Val)

The MTHFR nucleotide at position 677 in the gene has two possibilities: C or T. C at position 677 (leading to an alanine at amino acid 222) is the normal allele. The 677T allele (leading to a valine substitution at amino acid 222) encodes a thermolabile enzyme with reduced activity. Individuals with two copies of 677C (677CC) have the "normal" or "wildtype" genotype. 677TT individuals (homozygous) are said to have mild MTHFR deficiency. 677CT individuals (heterozygotes) are almost the same as normal individuals because the normal MTHFR can make up for the thermolabile MTHFR .

 

Population prevalence: About ten percent of the North American population are T-homozygous for this polymorphism. There is ethnic variability in the frequency of the T allele - frequency in Mediterranean/Hispanics > Caucasians > Africans/African-Americans). (Source: Wikipedia: MTHFR)

 

A1298C SNP (Glu429Ala)

At nucleotide 1298 of the MTHFR, there are two possibilities: A or C. 1298A (leading to a Glu at amino acid 429) is the most common while 1298C (leading to an Ala substitution at amino acid 429) is less common. 1298AA is the "normal" homozygous, 1298AC the heterozygous, and 1298CC the homozygous for the "variant". In studies of human recombinant MTHFR, the protein encoded by 1298C cannot be distinguished from 1298A in terms of activity, thermolability, FAD release, or the protective effect of 5-methyl-THF.[11] The C mutation does not appear to affect the MTHFR protein. It does not result in thermolabile MTHFR and does not appear to affect homocysteine levels.

 

 

Chr/Locus Gene
SNP
Platform Location
Genotype values Normal genotype(s)
Risk variant(s) Reference study
1p36.3 C677T

rs1801133  

 

deCODEme,

23andme

11778965 CT CC, CT TT 1
1p36.3 A1298C

rs1801131

deCODEme,

23andme,

Navigenics

11777063 
AC AA, AC(?) AC(?), CC 1
19q13.33 FUT2

rs492602

deCODEme         2

 

Research studies: 

  1. Examining B12 Deficiency Associated With C677T Mutation on MTHFR Gene in Terms of Commonness and Endothelial Function (clinical study in progress (July 2008 - July 2010))
  2. Hazra., A. et al. Common Variants of FUT2 are Associated with Plasma Vitamin B12 Levels, Nat Genet. 2008 Oct;40(10):1160-2. Epub 2008 Sep 7. (Nature Genetics paper, PubMed citation, Science Daily article)

     

 

1.a. DATA COLLECTION: participant genotyping data (how to find and add your data)

Particpant rs1801133 (D,23)
rs1801131 (D,23,N)
rs492602 (D) Genotyping platform Study group
Citizen Scientist 0 AG GT   23andme-original edition Heterozygous/heterozygous
Citizen Scientist 1          
Citizen Scientist 2          
           

 

2. Phenotype: Vitamin B12 deficiency

 

 

 

C. Conclusions and Significance

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.