Acid phosphatase locus 1 (ACP1): Possible relationship of allelic variation to body size and human population adaptation to thermal stress - A theoretical perspective
Ls. Greene et al., Acid phosphatase locus 1 (ACP1): Possible relationship of allelic variation to body size and human population adaptation to thermal stress - A theoretical perspective, AM J HUM B, 12(5), 2000, pp. 688-701
Citations number
65
Categorie Soggetti
Sociology & Antropology","Medical Research General Topics
The acid phosphatase locus 1 (ACP1) codes for a low molecular weight phosph
otyrosine protein phosphatase that has the important action of dephosphoryl
ating tyrosine phosphorylated proteins and peptides and a second important
role in modulating flavin cofactor levels and the activity of flavo-enzymes
. These functions significantly influence cell division, differentiation, a
nd growth. Two alleles (ACP1*A and ACP1*B) reach polymorphic frequencies at
the ACP1 locus in all human populations, while the ACP1*C and ACP1*R allel
es reach polymorphic frequencies in restricted geographical regions. The wo
rldwide distribution of these alleles, and data from several clinical studi
es, strongly suggest that the ACP1 locus functions to modulate growth and t
hat selection at this locus is a component of the selective processes influ
encing body mass and human population adaptation to thermal stress. The ACP
1*A allele reaches highest frequencies at extreme latitudes and appears to
be associated with maximizing body mass and adaptation to cold stress, wher
eas the ACP1*B allele reaches highest frequencies in tropical and subtropic
al environments and appears to be associated with minimizing body mass and
adaptation to heat stress. The high frequency of the ACP1*C allele at north
ern latitudes, where ACP1*A allele frequencies are elevated, may be a mecha
nism for limiting fetal and maternal complications associated with fetal ma
crosomia and adult obesity in populations where protein and calorie intake
are relatively high. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.