Abstract

The 374F mutation in the SLC45A2 gene encoding the membrane associated transporter protein (MATP) has been suggested to be associated with skin color in Caucasians. In this synthesis, we collected the distribution of the 374F allele in 2910 unrelated subjects from 28 European and 4 North African populations. The highest allele frequency was observed in Denmark (0.98) and the lowest frequencies were observed in Tunisia (0.61) and in Algerian Mozabites (0.40). A significant decreasing latitudinal cline in 374F allele frequencies was observed, ranging from the north of West Europe to North Africa (R² = 0.6781).

Key words: Human skin pigmentation, SLC45A2 gene, 374F mutation, membrane-associated transporter protein (MATP), population study, gradient of allele frequencies, West Europe and North Africa.