Amylase activity is associated with AMY2B copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes

High amylase activity in dogs is associated with a drastic increase in copy numbers of the gene coding for pancreatic amylase, AMY2B, that likely allowed dogs to thrive on a relatively starch-rich diet during early dog domestication. Although most dogs thus probably digest starch more efficiently th...

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Main Authors: Arendt, Maja, Fall, Tove, Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin, Axelsson, Erik
Format: Online
Language:English
Published: BlackWell Publishing Ltd 2014
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4329415/
id pubmed-4329415
recordtype oai_dc
spelling pubmed-43294152015-03-03 Amylase activity is associated with AMY2B copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes Arendt, Maja Fall, Tove Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin Axelsson, Erik Articles High amylase activity in dogs is associated with a drastic increase in copy numbers of the gene coding for pancreatic amylase, AMY2B, that likely allowed dogs to thrive on a relatively starch-rich diet during early dog domestication. Although most dogs thus probably digest starch more efficiently than do wolves, AMY2B copy numbers vary widely within the dog population, and it is not clear how this variation affects the individual ability to handle starch nor how it affects dog health. In humans, copy numbers of the gene coding for salivary amylase, AMY1, correlate with both salivary amylase levels and enzyme activity, and high amylase activity is related to improved glycemic homeostasis and lower frequencies of metabolic syndrome. Here, we investigate the relationship between AMY2B copy numbers and serum amylase activity in dogs and show that amylase activity correlates with AMY2B copy numbers. We then describe how AMY2B copy numbers vary in individuals from 20 dog breeds and find strong breed-dependent patterns, indicating that the ability to digest starch varies both at the breed and individual level. Finally, to test whether AMY2B copy number is strongly associated with the risk of developing diabetes mellitus, we compare copy numbers in cases and controls as well as in breeds with varying diabetes susceptibility. Although we see no such association here, future studies using larger cohorts are needed before excluding a possible link between AMY2B and diabetes mellitus. BlackWell Publishing Ltd 2014-10 2014-06-28 /pmc/articles/PMC4329415/ /pubmed/24975239 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/age.12179 Text en © 2014 The Authors. Animal Genetics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
repository_type Open Access Journal
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution US National Center for Biotechnology Information
building NCBI PubMed
collection Online Access
language English
format Online
author Arendt, Maja
Fall, Tove
Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin
Axelsson, Erik
spellingShingle Arendt, Maja
Fall, Tove
Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin
Axelsson, Erik
Amylase activity is associated with AMY2B copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes
author_facet Arendt, Maja
Fall, Tove
Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin
Axelsson, Erik
author_sort Arendt, Maja
title Amylase activity is associated with AMY2B copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes
title_short Amylase activity is associated with AMY2B copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes
title_full Amylase activity is associated with AMY2B copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes
title_fullStr Amylase activity is associated with AMY2B copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes
title_full_unstemmed Amylase activity is associated with AMY2B copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes
title_sort amylase activity is associated with amy2b copy numbers in dog: implications for dog domestication, diet and diabetes
description High amylase activity in dogs is associated with a drastic increase in copy numbers of the gene coding for pancreatic amylase, AMY2B, that likely allowed dogs to thrive on a relatively starch-rich diet during early dog domestication. Although most dogs thus probably digest starch more efficiently than do wolves, AMY2B copy numbers vary widely within the dog population, and it is not clear how this variation affects the individual ability to handle starch nor how it affects dog health. In humans, copy numbers of the gene coding for salivary amylase, AMY1, correlate with both salivary amylase levels and enzyme activity, and high amylase activity is related to improved glycemic homeostasis and lower frequencies of metabolic syndrome. Here, we investigate the relationship between AMY2B copy numbers and serum amylase activity in dogs and show that amylase activity correlates with AMY2B copy numbers. We then describe how AMY2B copy numbers vary in individuals from 20 dog breeds and find strong breed-dependent patterns, indicating that the ability to digest starch varies both at the breed and individual level. Finally, to test whether AMY2B copy number is strongly associated with the risk of developing diabetes mellitus, we compare copy numbers in cases and controls as well as in breeds with varying diabetes susceptibility. Although we see no such association here, future studies using larger cohorts are needed before excluding a possible link between AMY2B and diabetes mellitus.
publisher BlackWell Publishing Ltd
publishDate 2014
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4329415/
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