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Myrum C, Nikolaienko O, Bramham CR, Haavik J, Zayats T. Implication of the APP Gene in Intellectual Abilities. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 59:723-735. [PMID: 28671113 PMCID: PMC5523840 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: Cognitive functions are highly heritable and polygenic, though the source of this genetic influence is unclear. On the neurobiological level, these functions rely on effective neuroplasticity, in which the activity-regulated cytoskeleton associated protein (ARC) plays an essential role. Objectives: To examine whether the ARC gene complex may contribute to the genetic components of intellectual function given the crucial role of ARC in brain plasticity and memory formation. Methods: The ARC complex was tested for association with intelligence (IQ) in children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, N = 5,165). As Alzheimer’s disease (AD) shares genetics with cognitive functioning, the association was followed up in an AD sample (17,008 cases, 37,154 controls). Results: The ARC complex revealed association with verbal and total IQ (empirical p = 0.027 and 0.041, respectively) in the ALSPAC. The strongest single variant signal (rs2830077; empirical p = 0.018), within the APP gene, was confirmed in the AD sample (p = 2.76E-03). Functional analyses of this variant showed its preferential binding to the transcription factor CP2. Discussion: This study implicates APP in childhood IQ. While follow-up studies are needed, this observation could help elucidate the etiology of disorders associated with cognitive dysfunction, such as AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Myrum
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Oleksii Nikolaienko
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Clive R Bramham
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jan Haavik
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Tetyana Zayats
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Liu J, Xu Y, Kang Y, Cao S, Shi G, Cui H, Sun S, Wang L. The aberrantly expressed long non-coding RNA in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum of Nrf2-knockout mice. J Neurochem 2017; 143:65-75. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy; Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang China
| | - Yali Xu
- The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang China
| | - Yunxiao Kang
- Department of Neurobiology; Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang China
| | - Shanhu Cao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang China
| | - Geming Shi
- Department of Neurobiology; Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Human Anatomy; Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang China
| | - Shaoguang Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy; Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang China
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van Hagen M, Piebes DGE, de Leeuw WC, Vuist IM, van Roon-Mom WMC, Moerland PD, Verschure PJ. The dynamics of early-state transcriptional changes and aggregate formation in a Huntington's disease cell model. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:373. [PMID: 28499347 PMCID: PMC5429582 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3745-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. Proteolytic cleavage of mutant huntingtin (Htt) protein with an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) stretch results in production of Htt fragments that aggregate and induce impaired ubiquitin proteasome, mitochondrial functioning and transcriptional dysregulation. To understand the time-resolved relationship between aggregate formation and transcriptional changes at early disease stages, we performed temporal transcriptome profiling and quantification of aggregate formation in living cells in an inducible HD cell model. Results Rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells containing a stably integrated, doxycycline-inducible, eGFP-tagged N-terminal human Htt fragment with an expanded polyQ domain were used to analyse gene expression changes at different stages of mutant Htt aggregation. At earliest time points after doxycycline induction no detectable aggregates and few changes in gene expression were observed. Aggregates started to appear at intermediate time points. Aggregate formation and subsequent enlargement of aggregates coincided with a rapid increase in the number of differentially expressed (DE) genes. The increase in number of large aggregates coincided with a decrease in the number of smaller aggregates whereas the transcription profile reverted towards the profile observed before mutant Htt induction. Cluster-based analysis of the 2,176 differentially expressed genes revealed fourteen distinct clusters responding differently over time. Functional enrichment analysis of the two major gene clusters revealed that genes in the up-regulated cluster were mainly involved in metabolic (antioxidant activity and cellular ketone metabolic processes) and genes in the down-regulated cluster in developmental processes, respectively. Promoter-based analysis of the identified gene clusters resulted in identification of a transcription factor network of which several previously have been linked to HD. Conclusions We demonstrate a time-resolved relationship between Htt aggregation and changes in the transcriptional profile. We identified two major gene clusters showing involvement of (i) mitochondrial dysfunction and (ii) developmental processes implying cellular homeostasis defects. We identified novel and known HD-linked transcription factors and show their interaction with known and predicted regulatory proteins. Our data provide a novel resource for hypothesis building on the role of transcriptional key regulators in early stages of HD and possibly other polyQ-dependent diseases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3745-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn van Hagen
- Synthetic, Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Diewertje G E Piebes
- Synthetic, Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wim C de Leeuw
- MicroArray Department, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ilona M Vuist
- Synthetic, Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Perry D Moerland
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pernette J Verschure
- Synthetic, Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Roy J, Mallick B. Altered gene expression in late-onset Alzheimer's disease due to SNPs within 3'UTR microRNA response elements. Genomics 2017; 109:177-185. [PMID: 28286146 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2017.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease found in people older than 65years of age. Disease etiology is complex, as susceptibility has been linked to multiple gene variants conferred by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, the molecular mechanisms by which SNPs contribute to LOAD pathogenesis have not been extensively studied, particularly for SNPs within the 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs), the hubs for microRNA binding. Therefore, we screened for SNPs within the 3'UTRs of LOAD-associated genes that may create or destroy microRNA response elements (MREs) and thus alter gene expression. This investigation adopted an in-silico approach that integrated structural and thermodynamic features of miRNA target binding with screening using CLIP-seq data, followed by network analysis. This strategy identified three 3'UTR SNPs, rs10876135, rs5848, and rs5786996 that may alter the respective binding sites for the miRNAs hsa-miR-197-5p, hsa-miR-185-5p, and hsa-miR-34a-5p, all of which are upregulated in LOAD. The functional significance of these MRE-SNPs was assessed by potential regulation of biological networks known to be associated with LOAD. This is the first study to demonstrate a possible role for above 3'UTR MRE-SNPs in aberrant expression of target genes with functional consequences for LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Roy
- RNAi & Functional Genomics Lab, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Bibekanand Mallick
- RNAi & Functional Genomics Lab, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India.
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Santhekadur PK, Rajasekaran D, Siddiq A, Gredler R, Chen D, Schaus SE, Hansen U, Fisher PB, Sarkar D. The transcription factor LSF: a novel oncogene for hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Cancer Res 2012; 2:269-285. [PMID: 22679558 PMCID: PMC3365805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 04/05/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor LSF (Late SV40 Factor), also known as TFCP2, belongs to the LSF/CP2 family related to Grainyhead family of proteins and is involved in many biological events, including regulation of cellular and viral promoters, cell cycle, DNA synthesis, cell survival and Alzheimer's disease. Our recent studies establish an oncogenic role of LSF in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). LSF overexpression is detected in human HCC cell lines and in more than 90% cases of human HCC patients, compared to normal hepatocytes and liver, and its expression level showed significant correlation with the stages and grades of the disease. Forced overexpression of LSF in less aggressive HCC cells resulted in highly aggressive, angiogenic and multi-organ metastatic tumors in nude mice. Conversely, inhibition of LSF significantly abrogated growth and metastasis of highly aggressive HCC cells in nude mice. Microarray studies revealed that as a transcription factor LSF modulated specific genes regulating invasion, angiogenesis, chemoresistance and senescence. LSF transcriptionally regulates thymidylate synthase (TS) gene, thus contributing to cell cycle regulation and chemoresistance. Our studies identify a network of proteins, including osteopontin (OPN), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), c-Met and complement factor H (CFH), that are directly regulated by LSF and play important role in LSF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. A high throughput screening identified small molecule inhibitors of LSF DNA binding and the prototype of these molecules, Factor Quinolinone inhibitor 1 (FQI1), profoundly inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in human HCC cells without exerting harmful effects to normal immortal human hepatocytes and primary mouse hepatocytes. In nude mice xenograft studies, FQI1 markedly inhibited growth of human HCC xenografts as well as angiogenesis without exerting any toxicity. These studies establish a key role of LSF in hepatocarcinogenesis and usher in a novel therapeutic avenue for HCC, an invariably fatal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanna K Santhekadur
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Devaraja Rajasekaran
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Ayesha Siddiq
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Rachel Gredler
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Pathology,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Scott E Schaus
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Chemical Methodology and Library Development at Boston University (CMLDBU)Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ulla Hansen
- Department of Biology, Boston UniversityBoston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
- Department of Pathology,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center,Virginia Commonwealth University, School of MedicineRichmond, VA 23298, USA
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Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease: role of amyloid precursor protein and presenilin 1 intracellular signaling. J Toxicol 2012; 2012:187297. [PMID: 22496686 PMCID: PMC3306972 DOI: 10.1155/2012/187297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Revised: 10/14/2011] [Accepted: 10/26/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder characterized by (1) progressive loss of synapses and neurons, (2) intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, composed of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein, and (3) amyloid plaques. Genetically, AD is linked to mutations in few proteins amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 and 2 (PS1 and PS2). The molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in AD as well as the physiological function of APP are not yet known. A recent theory has proposed that APP and PS1 modulate intracellular signals to induce cell-cycle abnormalities responsible for neuronal death and possibly amyloid deposition. This hypothesis is supported by the presence of a complex network of proteins, clearly involved in the regulation of signal transduction mechanisms that interact with both APP and PS1. In this review we discuss the significance of novel finding related to cell-signaling events modulated by APP and PS1 in the development of neurodegeneration.
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Ellis MK, Zhao ZZ, Chen HG, Montgomery GW, Li YS, McManus DP. Analysis of the 5q31 33 locus shows an association between single nucleotide polymorphism variants in the IL-5 gene and symptomatic infection with the human blood fluke, Schistosoma japonicum. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 179:8366-71. [PMID: 18056382 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.179.12.8366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Genetic studies of human susceptibility to Schistosoma (blood fluke) infections have previously identified a genetic locus determining infection intensity with the African species, Schistosoma mansoni, in the 5q31-33 region of the human genome that is known to contain the Th2 immune response cluster, including the genes encoding the IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 cytokines. These cytokines are key players in inflammatory immune responses and have previously been implicated in human susceptibility to infection with the Asian species, S. japonicum. In a nested case control study, we genotyped 30 HapMap tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across these three genes in 159 individuals identified as putatively susceptible to reinfection with S. japonicum and in 133 putatively resistant individuals. A third group comprising 113 individuals demonstrating symptomatic infection was also included. The results provided no significant association at a global level between reinfection predisposition and any of the individual SNPs or haplotype blocks. However, two tagging SNPs in IL-5 demonstrated globally significant association with susceptibility to symptomatic infection. They were in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other and were found to belong to the same haplotype block that also provided a significant association after permutation testing. This haplotype was located in the 3'-untranslated region of IL-5, suggesting that variants in this region of IL-5 may modulate the immune response in these individuals with symptomatic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda K Ellis
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, Queensland Institute of Medical Research and University of Queensland, Australia.
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8
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Llorca J, Rodríguez-Rodríguez E, Dierssen-Sotos T, Delgado-Rodríguez M, Berciano J, Combarros O. Meta-analysis of genetic variability in the beta-amyloid production, aggregation and degradation metabolic pathways and the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neurol Scand 2008; 117:1-14. [PMID: 17854420 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2007.00899.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variants in genes encoding enzymes involved in production, aggregation or degradation of beta-amyloid are potential risk factors for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS Meta-analyses on AD association with BACE1 exon 5, BACE1 intron 5, FE65 intron 13, CYP46 intron 2, alpha(1)-antichymotrypsine Ala17Thr, bleomycin hydrolase I443V, lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor (OLR1) 3'-UTR (+1071) and (+1073), and very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) 5'-UTR (CGG-repeat) polymorphisms. RESULTS In BACE1 exon 5, genotype CC+CT acts as a protective factor in Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon 4 carriers [odds ratio (OR) = 0.57; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38-0.88], and as a risk factor in ApoE epsilon 4 non-carriers (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.00-1.78). OLR1 3'-UTR (+1073) allele C is associated with increased risk (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.01-1.50). VLDLR 5'-UTR genotype 2 is associated with increased risk (OR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.09-2.63) in the Asian population and is protective (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.26-0.86) in the non-Asian population. Other studied polymorphisms are not associated with AD. CONCLUSIONS The overall impact on AD risk of the genes for which meta-analyses are now available is rather limited. Additional meta-analyses of other different genes encoding for A beta production, aggregation and degradation mediators might help in determining the risk profile for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Llorca
- Division of Epidemiology and Computational Biology, University of Cantabria School of Medicine, Santander, Spain.
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Vernes SC, Spiteri E, Nicod J, Groszer M, Taylor JM, Davies KE, Geschwind DH, Fisher SE. High-throughput analysis of promoter occupancy reveals direct neural targets of FOXP2, a gene mutated in speech and language disorders. Am J Hum Genet 2007; 81:1232-50. [PMID: 17999362 DOI: 10.1086/522238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2007] [Accepted: 08/08/2007] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously discovered that mutations of the human FOXP2 gene cause a monogenic communication disorder, primarily characterized by difficulties in learning to make coordinated sequences of articulatory gestures that underlie speech. Affected people have deficits in expressive and receptive linguistic processing and display structural and/or functional abnormalities in cortical and subcortical brain regions. FOXP2 provides a unique window into neural processes involved in speech and language. In particular, its role as a transcription factor gene offers powerful functional genomic routes for dissecting critical neurogenetic mechanisms. Here, we employ chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with promoter microarrays (ChIP-chip) to successfully identify genomic sites that are directly bound by FOXP2 protein in native chromatin of human neuron-like cells. We focus on a subset of downstream targets identified by this approach, showing that altered FOXP2 levels yield significant changes in expression in our cell-based models and that FOXP2 binds in a specific manner to consensus sites within the relevant promoters. Moreover, we demonstrate significant quantitative differences in target expression in embryonic brains of mutant mice, mediated by specific in vivo Foxp2-chromatin interactions. This work represents the first identification and in vivo verification of neural targets regulated by FOXP2. Our data indicate that FOXP2 has dual functionality, acting to either repress or activate gene expression at occupied promoters. The identified targets suggest roles in modulating synaptic plasticity, neurodevelopment, neurotransmission, and axon guidance and represent novel entry points into in vivo pathways that may be disturbed in speech and language disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja C Vernes
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, The University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
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Brooks WM, Lynch PJ, Ingle CC, Hatton A, Emson PC, Faull RLM, Starkey MP. Gene expression profiles of metabolic enzyme transcripts in Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res 2007; 1127:127-35. [PMID: 17109828 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.09.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2006] [Revised: 09/20/2006] [Accepted: 09/21/2006] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The successfully functioning brain is a heavy user of metabolic energy. Alzheimer's disease, in which cognitive faculties decline, may be due, at least in part, to metabolic insufficiency. Using microarray analysis and quantitative RT-PCR, the expression of mRNA transcripts involved in glucose metabolism was investigated in Alzheimer's diseased post-mortem human hippocampal samples. Of the 51 members of the glycolytic, tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and associated pathways investigated by qPCR, 15 were confirmed to be statistically significantly (p<0.05) down-regulated in Alzheimer's disease. This finding suggests that reductions in the levels of transcripts encoded by genes that participate in energy metabolism may be involved in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy M Brooks
- Medical Research Council Rosalind Franklin Centre for Genomics Research, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SB, UK
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Jiang Z, Michal JJ, Williams GA, Daniels TF, Kunej T. Cross species association examination of UCN3 and CRHR2 as potential pharmacological targets for antiobesity drugs. PLoS One 2006; 1:e80. [PMID: 17183713 PMCID: PMC1762311 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2006] [Accepted: 11/14/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity now constitutes a leading global public health problem. Studies have shown that insulin resistance affiliated with obesity is associated with intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) accumulation. Therefore, identification of genes associated with the phenotype would provide a clear target for pharmaceutical intervention and care for the condition. We hypothesized that urocortin 3 (UCN3) and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) are associated with IMCL and subcutaneous fat depth (SFD), because the corticotropin-releasing hormone family of peptides are capable of strong anorectic and thermogenic effects. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We annotated both bovine UCN3 and CRHR2 genes and identified 12 genetic mutations in the former gene and 5 genetic markers in the promoter region of the latter gene. Genotyping of these 17 markers on Wagyu times Limousin F(2) progeny revealed significant associations between promoter polymorphisms and SFD (P = 0.0203-0.0685) and between missense mutations of exon 2 and IMCL (P = 0.0055-0.0369) in the bovine UCN3 gene. The SFD associated promoter SNPs caused a gain/loss of 12 potential transcription regulatory binding sites, while the IMCL associated coding SNPs affected the secondary structure of UCN3 mRNA. However, none of five polymorphisms in CRHR2 gene clearly co-segregated with either trait in the population (P>0.6000). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Because UCN3 is located on human chromosome 10p15.1 where quantitative trait loci for obesity have been reported, our cross species study provides further evidence that it could be proposed as a potential target for developing antiobesity drugs. None of the markers in CRHR2 was associated with obesity-type traits in cattle, which is consistent with findings in human. Therefore, CRHR2 does not lend itself to the development of antiobesity drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihua Jiang
- Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
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12
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Chen JM, Férec C, Cooper DN. A systematic analysis of disease-associated variants in the 3' regulatory regions of human protein-coding genes II: the importance of mRNA secondary structure in assessing the functionality of 3' UTR variants. Hum Genet 2006; 120:301-33. [PMID: 16807757 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-006-0218-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2006] [Accepted: 05/29/2006] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In an attempt both to catalogue 3' regulatory region (3' RR)-mediated disease and to improve our understanding of the structure and function of the 3' RR, we have performed a systematic analysis of disease-associated variants in the 3' RRs of human protein-coding genes. We have previously analysed the variants that have occurred in two specific domains/motifs of the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) as well as in the 3' flanking region. Here we have focused upon 83 known variants within the upstream sequence (USS; between the translational termination codon and the upstream core polyadenylation signal sequence) of the 3' UTR. To place these variants in their proper context, we first performed a comprehensive survey of known cis-regulatory elements within the USS and the mechanisms by which they effect post-transcriptional gene regulation. Although this survey supports the view that RNA regulatory elements function within the context of specific secondary structures, there are no general rules governing how secondary structure might exert its influence. We have therefore addressed this question by systematically evaluating both functional and non-functional (based upon in vitro reporter gene and/or electrophoretic mobility shift assay data) USS variant-containing sequences against known cis-regulatory motifs within the context of predicted RNA secondary structures. This has allowed us not only to establish a reliable and objective means to perform secondary structure prediction but also to identify consistent patterns of secondary structural change that could potentiate the discrimination of functional USS variants from their non-functional counterparts. The resulting rules were then used to infer potential functionality in the case of some of the remaining functionally uncharacterized USS variants, from their predicted secondary structures. This not only led us to identify further patterns of secondary structural change but also several potential novel cis-regulatory motifs within the 3' UTRs studied.
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13
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Lee CIP, Leong SH, Png AEH, Choo KW, Syn C, Lim DTH, Law HY, Kon OL. An isothermal method for whole genome amplification of fresh and degraded DNA for comparative genomic hybridization, genotyping and mutation detection. DNA Res 2006; 13:77-88. [PMID: 16766515 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsi029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular genotyping has important biomedical and forensic applications. However, limiting amounts of human biological material often yield genomic DNA (gDNA) in insufficient quantity and of poor quality for a reliable analysis. This motivated the development of an efficient whole genome amplification method with quantitatively unbiased representation usable on fresh and degraded gDNA. Amplification of fresh frozen, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and DNase-degraded DNA using degenerate oligonucleotide-primed PCR or primer extension amplification using a short primer sequence bioinformatically optimized for coverage of the human genome was compared with amplification using current primers by chromosome-based and BAC-array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), genotyping at short tandem repeats (STRs) and single base mutation detection. Compared with current primers, genome amplification using the bioinformatically optimized primer was significantly less biased on CGH in self-self hybridizations, and replicated tumour genome copy number aberrations, even from FFPE tissue. STR genotyping could be performed on degraded gDNA amplified using our technique but failed with multiple displacement amplification. Of the 18 different single base mutations 16 (89.5%) were correctly identified by sequencing gDNA amplified from clinical samples using our technique. This simple and efficient isothermal method should be helpful for genetic research and clinical and forensic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl I P Lee
- Division of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610
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