Abstract for presentation at 11th International Congress of Human Genetics

Replication of linkage and association of PROP perception to chromosome 7 and suggestion of novel loci on chromosome 6

  • Jonathan Hansen, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia
  • Dr Danielle Reed, Monell Chemical Senses Center, United States
  • Dr Margaret Wright, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia
  • Nicholas Martin, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia
  • Dr Paul Breslin, Monell Chemical Senses Center, United States

    • This study was conducted to replicate linkage to chromosome 7, association with known TAS2R38 haplotypes and to search for other chromosomal regions that may influence PROP perception. The perceived bitterness of a 6.0 x 10-4 M propylthiouracil (PROP) solution and a dry PROP strip (from a saturated solution) was examined in a genetically informative sample of 62 MZ and 131 DZ twin pairs and 237 sib pairs. Multipoint linkage analysis (761 microsatellites) and association analyses (rs713598, rs1726866) were performed using the software packages MERLIN and Mx respectively. Linkage analysis generated a LOD score of 4.9 on chromosome 7 (D7S684) for the PROP solution with no evidence of linkage to this region for the PROP strip. The highest peak for the PROP strip was on chromosome 6 (D6S1017) with a LOD score of 2.0 with the PROP solution having a LOD score of 1.7 at the previous marker (D6S2427). Association with the three TAS2R38 haplotypes (PAV, AAV and AVI) indicated that TAS2R38 accounts for 66% and 24% of the variation in the perceived intensity of the PROP solution and strip respectively. Given that the heritability of both the solution and strip measures is 0.75, there are additional genes responsible for variation in perceived intensity of PROP, especially the strip, and we suggest that these may reside on chromosome 6.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd