| 
  • 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 16, 2010 at 3:02:10 pm
 

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. Genotype data

SNPs 1&2: Gene mutation: MTHFR (Source: Wikipedia, NIH) Methylenetetrahydrofolate 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
  • 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.

 

SNP 3: Gene mutation: FUT2 (Source: Research Study 2 (below))

Women homozygous for the rs492602[G] allele had higher B12 levels.

 

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

rs1801133

D,23

11778965 CT C, CT TT 1
2 1p36.3 A1298C

rs1801131

D,23,N 11777063 
AC AA, AC(?) AC(?), CC 1
3 19q13.33 FUT2

rs492602

D   AG AA, AG(?) AG(?), GG 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)

  3. Matteini, A.M. et al. Transcobalamin-II variants, decreased vitamin B12 availability and increased risk of frailty. J Nutr Health Aging. 2010 Jan;14(1):73-7. (Pubmed citation)

     

 

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(s) Study group Date added Questionnaire
Citizen Scientist 100
AG GT   23andme-original edition Heterozygous/heterozygous 2/5/10 Incomplete
Citizen Scientist 101
             
Citizen Scientist 102
             
               

 

2. Phenotype data: Vitamin B12 deficiency

Blood tests: 

 

2.a. Data Collection: participant blood test data 

Participant
Study group Blood test data Blood test
Citizen Scientist 0 Heterozygous/heterozygous   DirectLabs Vit B12
       

 

3. Dietary supplementation

Regimen...

3.a. Data Collection

 

C. Conclusions and Significance

Comments (0)

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