FOXO3 gene variants and human aging: coding variants may not be key players

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012 Nov;67(11):1132-9. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gls067. Epub 2012 Mar 28.

Abstract

FOXO3 is generally recognized as a "master" gene in aging since its association with longevity has been replicated in multiple organisms and human populations. A group of single nucleotide polymorphisms in linkage disequilibrium with a coding region has been associated with human longevity, but the actual functional variant is unidentified. Therefore, we sequenced the coding region in our long-lived Japanese American population in order to enhance resources for fine mapping this region. We demonstrate that of 38 published variants, 6 are misalignments with homologous nonallelic sequences from FOXO3B (ZNF286B), a pseudogene on a different chromosome; 2 are attributable to ZNF286B only, and the remaining 30 were unconfirmed, indicating that they are very rare and not likely involved in longevity. Furthermore, we identified a novel, unique, nonsynonymous coding variant in exon 3 (Gly566Ala; rs138174682) that is prevalent in multiple ethnic groups but appeared too rare for major longevity effects in our study populations.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / genetics*
  • Alleles
  • Asian / genetics
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Humans
  • Longevity / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • White People / genetics

Substances

  • FOXO3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors