The Single Nucleotide Variant rs17602729 (C34T) of the <i>AMPD1</i> Gene is Associated with Athletic Qualification and Competitive Distance in Caucasian Cyclical Sports Athletes

Abstract

All physiological processes necessary for high athletic performance, including energy production in skeletal muscles and the peculiarities of metabolic processes (phosphogenic pathway, glycolytic, aerobic) are genetically determined. The enzyme Adenosine Monophosphate Deaminase is an important regulator of skeletal muscle energy metabolism during exercise. The identification of genetic biomarkers that determine the effectiveness of ATP resynthesis is one of the priorities of sports genetics. (1) Background: To study the associations of SNV rs17602729 (C34T) allelic variants and genotypes of the AMPD1 gene with qualification and competitive distance in Caucasian athletes of the Southern Urals. (2) Methods: 173 people of European origin who lived in the Southern Urals region took part in the study. The first group included 123 cyclical sports athletes (speed skating, running disciplines in track-and-field): SD (short distances) subgroup ‒ 40 sprinters (mean - 22.1 ± 2.4 y.o.); MD (middle distances) subgroup ‒ 38 athletes (mean - 20.1 ± 2.5 y.o.); subgroup LD (long distances) – 45 stayer athletes (mean - 22.6 ± 2.7 y.o.). The control group consisted of 50 healthy non–athletes (mean ‒ 21.4 ± 2.7 y.o.). We used the Step One Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, USA) device for real-time polymerase chain reaction. (4) Conclusions: the common allele with rs17602729 of the AMPD1 gene can be considered as a biomarker associated with short and medium competitive distances. It can help in the selection of elite athletes who require effective performance of anaerobic sports loads. The variable T allele is an unfavorable biomarker (negative predictor) for achieving the status of Honored Master of Sports and Sport Master of International Class in athletics and speed skating, regardless of the competitive distance.