Genotype and allele frequency of the variable number tandem repeat polymorphism in the VNTR6-1st of the of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene in Chinese population.

The variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the intron 6 of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) was investigated. Seven alleles of 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26 and 35 repeats of the 36 bp VNTR6-1st and 14 genotypes were identified among 210 unrelated healthy Chinese individuals (Han people) living in Beijing. The 20, 22 and 35 repeats were the most frequent alleles which accounted for 94.76% of the total alleles observed. The allele frequency of the Chinese population showed no difference with that of the Korea population living in Pusan except for allele of 35 repeats. But the 5' flanking region of VNTR6-1st polymorphic sequence of the Chinese population included a 53-bp insert compared with that of korea population except for some alleles of 22 repeats.