Atherosclerosis (heart disease)
& ApoE a syndrome where Ca+2/ fats/cholesterols collect in blood vessels = plaque = MI and/or stroke
ApoE is a polymorphic gene with 3 gene variants of apolipoprotein E amino acid sequence; the 3 variants differ from each other only by single amino acids at positions 112 & 158. E2 - 4% of population have 2 copies of this gene & are vulnerable to high cholesterol/fat diets; poor receptor binding resulting in type-III hyperlipoproteinemia. [CYS at 112 & 158] E3 - normal & most common form of gene in Europeans/Caucasians & is healthiest variant [CYS at 112 & ARG at 158] E4 - one amino acid letter differs from E3 gene; 7% of population has 2 copies of this gene = atherosclerosis & Alzheimer risk, impaired cognitive function and reduced neuron cell body growth; [ARG at 112 & 158] back |