Genome-Wide Linkage Scan for Physical Activity Levels in the Quebec Family Study

RIITTA L. SIMONEN 1; TUOMO RANKINEN 1; LOUIS PÉRUSSE 2; TREVA RICE 3; D. C. RAO 3 4; YVON CHAGNON 5; CLAUDE BOUCHARD 1

ABSTRACT

SIMONEN, R. L., T. RANKINEN, L. PÉRUSSE, T. RICE, D. C. RAO, Y. CHAGNON, and C. BOUCHARD. Genome-Wide Linkage Scan for Physical Activity Levels in the Quebec Family Study. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 35, No. 8, pp. 1355-1359, 2003.

Purpose and Methods:

It is commonly recognized that there is familial aggregation for physical activity level. However, the genes and sequence variants responsible for the familial clustering have not been investigated. We performed a genome-wide linkage scan based on 432 markers typed in 767 subjects from 207 families of the Quebec Family study with the aim of identifying loci affecting physical activity levels. Four physical activity level phenotypes were used.

Results:

Promising evidence of linkage (P 0.0023) was found for physical inactivity on chromosome 2p22-p16. Suggestive linkages (0.0023P 0.01) were found for inactivity (7p11.2, 20q13.1), total physical activity (13q22-q31), moderate to strenuous physical activity (4q28.2, 7p11.2, 9q31.1, 13q22-q31), and time spent in physical activity (11p15 and 15q13.3).

Conclusion:

This study identified several chromosomal regions harboring genes that may contribute to the propensity to be physically active or sedentary.

Key Words: GENETICS; LOCUS; EXERCISE; SEDENTARISM

1Human Genomics Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA;

2Physical Activity Sciences Laboratory, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, CANADA;

3Division of Biostatistics and

4Departments of Genetics and Psychiatry, Washington University, School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; and

5Psychiatric Genetic Unit, Laval University Robert-Giffard Research Center, Québec, CANADA

Address for correspondence: Claude Bouchard, Ph.D., Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808; E-mail: .

Submitted for publication September 2002.

Accepted for publication January 2003.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 2003; 35(8):1355-1359

Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins