Polymorphism of Y-chromosomal diallelic loci in populations of the Volga-Ural region

Three diallelic polymorphisms of human Y chromosome (DYS287 (Y Alu polymorp hism, YAP), T/C transition at the RBF5 locus (Tat), and G/A transition at t he LLY22 locus) were studied in eight ethnic populations of the Volga-Ural region, representing Turkic branch of the Altai (Bashkirs, Tatars, and Chuv ashes) and Finno-Ugric branch of the Uralic linguistic family (Maris, Mordo vians, Udmurts, Komi-Zyryans, and Komi-Permyaks), and in the group of Slavi c migrants, belonging to the Indo-European linguistic family (Russians). Th e Volga-Ural populations were characterized by a low frequency of the Y chr omosome Alu insertion. Examination of an association between the Alu polymo rphism and Tat mutation revealed absolute YAP-/C linkage. Analysis of the h aplotype frequency distribution patterns constructed from the data on the D YS287 and RBF5 polymorphisms revealed substantial differences between Udmur ts and other populations. The differences were also observed between Komi-Z yryans and the populations of Bashkirs, Mordovians, Komi-Permyaks, and Russ ians. Analysis of the degree of genetic differentiation pointed to high lev el of genetic differentiation of the male lineages of the Finno-Ugric ethni c groups. The data on the linkage between the RBF5 locus and the LLY22 locu s mutations indicated the common origin of the Tat mutation in Bashkirs, Mo rdovians, Udmurts, and Komi-Zyryans, and of a number of ancestral C allele- bearing Y chromosomes in Tatars, Maris, and Chuvashes.