Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

Genotyping Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Mitochondrial Genome by Pyrosequencing
Published on: February 10, 2023
Cytochrome 1A1 and 1B1 gene diversity in the Zanzibar islands
I Cavaco1, R Piedade, M I Msellem
1Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Center of Molecular and Structural Biomedicine, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal. isacavaco@ualg.pt
Abstract:
Amodiaquine (AQ) is a 4-aminoquinoline widely used in the treatment of malaria as part of the artemisinin combination therapy (ACT). AQ is metabolised towards its main metabolite desethylamodiaquine mainly by cytochrome P450 2C8 (CYP2C8). CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 play a minor role in the metabolism but they seem to be significantly involved in the formation of the short-lived quinine-imine. To complete the genetic variation picture of the main genes involved in AQ metabolism in the Zanzibar population, previously characterised for CYP2C8, we analysed in this study CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 main genetic polymorphisms. The results obtained show a low frequency of the CYP1A1*2B/C allele (2.4%) and a high frequency of CYP1B1*6 (approximately 42%) followed by CYP1B1*2 (approximately 27%) in Zanzibar islands. Genotype data for CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 show a low incidence of fast metabolisers, revealing a relatively safe genetic background in Zanzibar's population regarding the appearance of adverse effects.
Related Concept Videos
Genetic Variation
Genes exist in different versions called alleles, which...
Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
Genetics of Speciation
Pharmacogenetics of Phase I Enzymes: Cytochrome P450 Isozymes
Export of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genes
Gene Duplication and Divergence
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.

