Polymorphism of GSTM1,GSTT1,GSTP1, and GSTA1 genes In Iraqi Population

One of the phase II enzymes that are responsible for detoxification of the body are Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Type and frequency of polymorphism of GSTs differ among the population. The current paper was designed to detect the polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 and GSTA1 genes among the Iraqi population, and the results were compared with other population. Data will be collected in the future to obtain a genetic map of the Iraqi population. To our knowledge, this study is the first done on the Iraqi population. In this study blood samples were collected from 110 healthy individuals (51 males and 59 females) aged between 15-50 years. The presence or absence of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes was identified by multiplex-PCR. In addition, PCR-RFLP was used to detect polymorphism of GSTP1 (Ile105Val) and GSTA1 (A*/B*). The study revealed the frequencies of GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, GSTP1 (Ile105Val), and GSTA1 A*/B* were 34.55%, 25.45%, 45.46%, and 41.82% respectively. The most frequently observed combinations were GSTM1 Present/GSTT1 Present/Ile/Val/A*/A* (18.18%). For the first time in Iraq by this study, four sequences were recorded in NCBI under the following accession numbers LC081235.1, LC090205.1, LC081236.1, and LC090206.1. These findings provide us the basic data for genotypes distribution and allele frequencies of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 and GSTA1 in the Iraqi population, and this is open a new prospect for further investigations by researchers in identifying differences between individuals in the genetic susceptibility of various diseases caused by environmental gene, rather than depending on results obtained from other populations.