Worldwide Ethnic Distribution of the G Protein β3 Subunit 825T Allele and Its Association with Obesity in Caucasian, Chinese, and Black African Individuals

Abstract. Recently, it was demonstrated that one allele (825T) of the gene encoding the G protein β3 subunit (GNB3) is associated with hypertension in Germans. This study investigates a possible association with obesity in young male Germans, Chinese, and black South Africans with low, intermediate, and high 825T allele frequencies, respectively. In each of these three distinct cohorts, the 825T allele frequency was increased significantly in overweight (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m2) and obese individuals (BMI >27 kg/m2) compared to those with normal weight. The 825T allele frequencies in these three BMI groups were, respectively, 29.5, 39.3, and 47.7% in Germans, 46.8, 53.9, and 58.6% in Chinese, and 83.1, 87.7, and 90.9% in South Africans. In each of these three distinct groups, the 825T allele was significantly associated with obesity with odds ratios between 2 and 3. More urban than rural black Africans were overweight despite similar 825T allele frequencies in both populations, which underscores the role of both genetic and environmental factors. BP values in young male whites increased significantly with increasing BMI values but were independent of the C825T polymorphism, suggesting that hypertension associated with the 825T allele could be a consequence of obesity. Genotyping of 5254 individuals from 55 native population samples from Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Guinea demonstrated highest 825T allele frequencies in black Africans (82%) and intermediate values in east Asians (47%). It is anticipated that high frequencies of the 825T allele in Africans and Asians may contribute to an obesity and hypertension epidemic if Westernization of lifestyles continues.

Download Full-text

G-Protein β3 Subunit C825T Polymorphism Tends to Be Associated with Seasonal Variation in Young Male College Students

Neuropsychobiology ◽

10.1159/000087559 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 135-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Heon-Jeong Lee ◽

Seung-Mo Sung ◽

Chang-Su Han ◽

Yong-Ku Kim ◽

Seung-Hyun Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Seasonal Variation ◽

G Protein ◽

Young Male ◽

Male College ◽

C825t Polymorphism ◽

Male College Students

Download Full-text

Reframing Xenophobia in South Africa as Colour-Blind: The Limits of the Afro Phobia Thesis

MIGRATION LETTERS ◽

10.33182/ml.v17i3.789 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 433-444

Author(s):

Amanuel Isak Tewolde

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Conflict Theory ◽

Black African ◽

South Africans ◽

Theoretical Perspectives ◽

Online Newspaper ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Realistic Conflict Theory

Many scholars and South African politicians characterize the widespread anti-foreigner sentiment and violence in South Africa as dislike against migrants and refugees of African origin which they named ‘Afro-phobia’. Drawing on online newspaper reports and academic sources, this paper rejects the Afro-phobia thesis and argues that other non-African migrants such as Asians (Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis and Chinese) are also on the receiving end of xenophobia in post-apartheid South Africa. I contend that any ‘outsider’ (White, Asian or Black African) who lives and trades in South African townships and informal settlements is scapegoated and attacked. I term this phenomenon ‘colour-blind xenophobia’. By proposing this analytical framework and integrating two theoretical perspectives — proximity-based ‘Realistic Conflict Theory (RCT)’ and Neocosmos’ exclusivist citizenship model — I contend that xenophobia in South Africa targets those who are in close proximity to disadvantaged Black South Africans and who are deemed outsiders (e.g., Asian, African even White residents and traders) and reject arguments that describe xenophobia in South Africa as targeting Black African refugees and migrants.

Download Full-text

The G Protein β3 Subunit Gene (GNB3) 825T Allele - a Thrifty Genotype

Current Genomics ◽

10.2174/1389202033490358 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 337-342

Author(s):

C. Naber ◽

R. Erbel ◽

W. Siffert

Keyword(s):

G Protein ◽

Subunit Gene ◽

Thrifty Genotype ◽

825T Allele

Download Full-text

High prevalence of non-dipping patterns among Black Africans with uncontrolled hypertension: a secondary analysis of the CREOLE trial

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12872-021-02074-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Prossie Merab Ingabire ◽

◽

Dike B. Ojji ◽

Brian Rayner ◽

Elijah Ogola ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Blood Pressure Monitoring ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Uncontrolled Hypertension ◽

African Countries ◽

Night Time ◽

Black Africans ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Black African ◽

High Prevalence

Abstract Background Dipping of blood pressure (BP) at night is a normal physiological phenomenon. However, a non-dipping pattern is associated with hypertension mediated organ damage, secondary forms of hypertension and poorer long-term outcome. Identifying a non-dipping pattern may be useful in assessing risk, aiding the decision to investigate for secondary causes, initiating treatment, assisting decisions on choice and timing of antihypertensive therapy, and intensifying salt restriction. Objectives To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with non-dipping pattern and determine the effect of 6 months of three antihypertensive regimens on the dipping pattern among Black African hypertensive patients. Methods This was a secondary analysis of the CREOLE Study which was a randomized, single blind, three-group trial conducted in 10 sites in 6 Sub-Saharan African countries. The participants were 721 Black African patients, aged between 30 and 79 years, with uncontrolled hypertension and a baseline 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Dipping was calculated from the average day and average night systolic blood pressure measures. Results The prevalence of non-dipping pattern was 78% (564 of 721). Factors that were independently associated with non-dipping were: serum sodium > 140 mmol/l (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.17–2.51, p-value 0.005), a higher office systolic BP (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.05, p-value 0.003) and a lower office diastolic BP (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95–0.99, p-value 0.03). Treatment allocation did not change dipping status at 6 months (McNemar’s Chi2 0.71, p-value 0.40). Conclusion There was a high prevalence of non-dipping among Black Africans with uncontrolled hypertension. ABPM should be considered more routinely in Black Africans with uncontrolled hypertension, if resources permit, to help personalise therapy. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and causes of non-dipping pattern and if targeting night-time BP improves clinical outcomes. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02742467).

Download Full-text

The G-Protein α-Subunit GasC Plays a Major Role in Germination in the Dimorphic FungusPenicillium marneffei

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/164.2.487 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 164 (2) ◽

pp. 487-499 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sophie Zuber ◽

Michael J Hynes ◽

Alex Andrianopoulos

Keyword(s):

G Protein ◽

Germination Rate ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Class Iii ◽

Temperature Dependent ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Α Subunit ◽

G Protein Α Subunit ◽

Opportunistic Human Pathogen

AbstractThe opportunistic human pathogen Penicillium marneffei exhibits a temperature-dependent dimorphic switch. At 25°, multinucleate, septate hyphae that can undergo differentiation to produce asexual spores (conidia) are produced. At 37° hyphae undergo arthroconidiation to produce uninucleate yeast cells that divide by fission. This work describes the cloning of the P. marneffei gasC gene encoding a G-protein α-subunit that shows high homology to members of the class III fungal Gα-subunits. Characterization of a ΔgasC mutant and strains carrying a dominant-activating gasCG45R or a dominant-interfering gasCG207R allele show that GasC is a crucial regulator of germination. A ΔgasC mutant is severely delayed in germination, whereas strains carrying a dominant-activating gasCG45R allele show a significantly accelerated germination rate. Additionally, GasC signaling positively affects the production of the red pigment by P. marneffei at 25° and negatively affects the onset of conidiation and the conidial yield, showing that GasC function overlaps with functions of the previously described Gα-subunit GasA. In contrast to the S. cerevisiae ortholog Gpa2, our data indicate that GasC is not involved in carbon or nitrogen source sensing and plays no major role in either hyphal or yeast growth or in the switch between these two forms.

Download Full-text

Association Between the G Protein 3 Subunit C825T Polymorphism and the Occurrence of Cardiovascular Disease in Hypertensives: The Nord-Trondelag Health Study (HUNT)

American Journal of Hypertension ◽

10.1038/ajh.2010.121 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 23 (10) ◽

pp. 1121-1127 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

O. L. Holmen ◽

S. Romundstad ◽

O. Melien

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

G Protein ◽

Health Study ◽

C825t Polymorphism

Download Full-text

A Regulator of G Protein Signaling-containing Kinase Is Important for Chemotaxis and Multicellular Development inDictyostelium

Molecular Biology of the Cell ◽

10.1091/mbc.e02-08-0550 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 1727-1743 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Binggang Sun ◽

Richard A. Firtel

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

G Protein ◽

Kinase Activity ◽

Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽

Membrane Localization ◽

Pleckstrin Homology Domain ◽

G Protein Signaling ◽

Protein Signaling ◽

Wild Type ◽

Gene Encoding

We have identified a gene encoding RGS domain-containing protein kinase (RCK1), a novel regulator of G protein signaling domain-containing protein kinase. RCK1 mutant strains exhibit strong aggregation and chemotaxis defects. rck1 null cells chemotax ∼50% faster than wild-type cells, suggesting RCK1 plays a negative regulatory role in chemotaxis. Consistent with this finding, overexpression of wild-type RCK1 reduces chemotaxis speed by ∼40%. On cAMP stimulation, RCK1 transiently translocates to the membrane/cortex region with membrane localization peaking at ∼10 s, similar to the kinetics of membrane localization of the pleckstrin homology domain-containing proteins CRAC, Akt/PKB, and PhdA. RCK1 kinase activity also increases dramatically. The RCK1 kinase activity does not rapidly adapt, but decreases after the cAMP stimulus is removed. This is particularly novel considering that most other chemoattractant-activated kinases (e.g., Akt/PKB, ERK1, ERK2, and PAKa) rapidly adapt after activation. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we further show that both the RGS and kinase domains are required for RCK1 function and that RCK1 kinase activity is required for the delocalization of RCK1 from the plasma membrane. Genetic evidence suggests RCK1 function lies downstream from Gα2, the heterotrimeric G protein that couples to the cAMP chemoattractant receptors. We suggest that RCK1 might be part of an adaptation pathway that regulates aspects of chemotaxis in Dictyostelium.

Download Full-text