We investigated the association of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with athlete status and power/speed performance in elite male youth soccer players (ESP) and control participants (CON) at different stages of maturity. ESP (n = 535; aged 8-23 years) and CON (n = 151; aged 9-26 years) were genotyped for 10 SNPs and grouped according to years from predicted peak-height-velocity (PHV), i.e. pre-or post-PHV, to determine maturity status. Participants performed bilateral vertical countermovement jumps, bilateral horizontal-forward countermovement jumps, 20m sprints and modified 505-agility tests. Compared to CON, pre-PHV ESP demonstrated a higher ACTN3 (rs1815739) XX ('endurance') genotype frequency distribution, while post-PHV ESP revealed a higher frequency distribution of the PPARA (rs4253778) C-allele, AGT (rs699) GG genotype and NOS3 (rs2070744) T-allele ('power' genotypes/alleles). BDNF (rs6265) CC, COL5A1 (rs12722) CC and NOS3 TT homozygotes sprinted quicker than A-allele carriers, CT heterozygotes and CC homozygotes, respectively. COL2A1 (rs2070739) CC and AMPD1 (rs17602729) GG homozygotes sprinted faster than their respective minor allele carrier counterparts in CON and pre-PHV ESP, respectively. BDNF CC homozygotes jumped further than T-allele carriers, while ESP COL5A1 CC homozygotes jumped higher than TT homozygotes. To conclude, we have shown for the first time that pre-and post-PHV ESP have distinct genetic profiles, with pre-PHV ESP more suited for endurance, and post-PHV ESP for power and speed (the latter phenotypes being crucial attributes for post-PHV ESP). We have also demonstrated that power, acceleration and sprint performance were associated with five SNPs, both individually and in combination, possibly by influencing muscle size and neuromuscular activation.

Actins are small globular filaments functioning in cell processes like muscle contraction, and stabilized to the sarcomeric Z-discs by actin binding proteins (actinins). One of the important gene coding for actin binding proteins in fast twitch fibers is alpha-actinin-3 (ACTN3). In this research, we have conducted a gene profile study investigating the genotype and allele distributions of ACTN3 R577X polymorphism in Turkish professional hip-hop and latin dancers and compared them to non-dancers as a control group. 30 professional dancers and non-dancers were recruited for the study. A genotyping procedure was carried out by a newly introduced four-primer PCR methodology. For statistical analysis, the Chi-square test was used to compare data between the groups (p<0,05 evaluated as significant). Numbers and the percentages of dancers were 2 (7%), 21 (70%) and 7(23%) for RR, RX and XX genotypes, respectively. The same numbers and the percentages were 15 (50%), 8 (15%) and 7 (23%) for RR, RX and XX genotypes, respectively, for the controls. Allele numbers and percentages of the R allele were 38 (63%) and 25 (42%) for the control and dancers, respectively. For X allele, the respective number for control and dancers were 22 (37%) and 35 (58%). No significant difference was detected between the groups in the terms of genotypes and alleles. Only RX genotype was significantly different between dancers and non-dancers (p<0,05). The results of the present and the first study, associating professional dancers and ACTN3 R577X polymorphism, is suggesting that RX genotype may have an genetic advantage for the physical predisposition for dancing, at least in the terms of ACTN3 R577X polymorphism. Prospective studies with extended numbers of dancers focusing on the influence of ACTN3 R577X polymorphism are required for confirmation of these findings.

Background. The determination of the genetic endowment of athletic performance in sports is an important step in developing personal training sessions or nutritional supplements for success in sports. Information about the genetic parameters responsible for these metabolisms will help sport's scientist to develop new insights for better performance. Muscle metabolism is one of the key points in better personal athletic performance. Objectives. The aim of this study is to analyze the distribution of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme (MTHFR) rs1801133 (C677T) genotype and allele distribution in a Turkish professional cyclist cohort. Methods. There were 25 Turkish cyclists enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood used for DNA isolation and the conventional polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology were used for genotyping. Results. There were 14 (56%), 10 (40%) and 1 (4%) cyclist who had CC, CT, and TT genotypes, respectively. C allele was counted as 38 (76%), and T alleles as 12 (24%). 9 (50%) of the male cyclist had CC, 8 (44.4%) had CT and only 1 had TT (5.6%) genotypes. C allele was counted as 26 (72.2%), and the T allele as 10 (27.8%) in the male cyclists. In the females, the respective genotypes for CC and CT were 5 (71.4%) and 2 (28.6%). C allele was counted as 12 (85.7%) and T allele as 2 (14.3%). Conclusion. In our cohort, both of the two genders, the CC genotype and C allele were found to be higher when compared to the other genotypes and T allele. Larger prospective studies focusing on the influence of MTHFR rs1801133 polymorphism in athletic performance are required for confirmation of our findings.