The 3'-UTR polymorphism of dopamine transporter gene in hadza and datoga males

The study of VNTR-polymorphism and the molecular struc ture of 3'-UTR of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1/SLC6A3) was performed in hadza and datoga males. It was shown that hadza and datoga differed in allele and genotype frequencies. Allele with 9 repeats in 3'-UTR is more common in hadza as well as homozygous genotype DAT19/9. Allele with 10 repeats is more common in datoga as well as homozygous genotype DAT1 10/10. The molecular structure of the DAT alleles with 3, 8 and 12 repeats was determined for the first time. In addition it was found that DAT1 allele with 11 repeats in datoga significantly differed from previously described ones in other populations in repeats type and arrangement. We suggest that variations of the repeats num ber and type in the 3'-UTR of allelic variants may affect the dopamine transporter gene function.