Study of a Functional Polymorphism in the PER3 Gene and Diurnal Preference in a Colombian Sample.

Polymorphisms in human clock genes have been evaluated as potential factors influencing circadian phenotypes in several populations. There are conflicting results for the association of a VNTR in the PER3 gene and diurnal preference in different studies. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between diurnal preference and daytime somnolence with the PER3 VNTR polymorphism (rs57875989) in healthy subjects from Colombia, a Latin American population.

A novel association of two non-synonymous polymorphisms in PER2 and PER3 genes with specific diurnal preference subscales.

The circadian system is responsible for the generation and maintenance of physiological and behavioral rhythms in mammals and allows synchronization with the environment. Different polymorphisms in clock genes have been studied in healthy humans, providing inconsistent results in different populations. In this study, we evaluated the possibility that two non-synonymous polymorphisms in PER2 (p.

Common functional polymorphisms in SLC6A4 and COMT genes are associated with circadian phenotypes in a South American sample.

The molecular study of circadian rhythms in humans could be an excellent approach to understand the relation between genes and behavior. It is possible that variations in genes involved in neurotransmission and/or synaptic plasticity, such as catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) could be of particular interest in understanding human circadian phenotypes. The aim of this study is to analyze the possible and novel associations of the functional polymorphisms in COMT and SLC6A4 genes (Val158Met and 5-HTTLPR) and circadian phenotypes in healthy Colombian subjects.