ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:Objective To establish a rapid molecular method for the detection of aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2)and investigate the gene polymorphisms of ALDH2?2 and determine whether the polymorphic ALDH2 gene is associated with drinking behavior in a Chinese population.Methods The gene polymorphisms of ALDH2?2 were detected using pyrosequencing,TaqMan Real-time PCR and GeneChip microarray technologies;genotyping of 302 volunteers was performed to assess their genetic associations with alcohol use behavior.Results We developed pyrosequencing,TaqMan Real-time PCR and GeneChip microarray methods to identify ALDH2? 2 polymorphisms.The allele frequency of ALDH2?2 was 20.36% in the Chinese population:16.33% in the alcoholic group and 27.83% in non-drinkers (P=0.001).In contrast,the genotype frequency of heterozygous ALDH2?1/?2 plus homozygous ALDH2?2/?2 was 45.28% in non-drinkers and 32.65% in the alcoholics group (P=0.030). Allele frequency of ALDH2 genotypes differed significantly between our Chinese sample and other ethnic groups in Asia,and it was significantly higher than that in European and American countries.Conclusion The developed pyrosequencing,TaqMan Real-time PCR and GeneChip microarray methods are rapid,accurate,high-throughput, convenient,and reliable for detecting ALDH2 polymorphisms.ALDH2?2 gene can protect against the development of alcoholism.The allele frequency of ALDH2 in this Chinese population differs from that in other ethnic groups.