Identification of a Novel Germline PPP4R3A Missense Mutation Asp409Asn on Familial Non-Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

Analysis of genomic copy number variations through whole-genome scan in Yunling cattle

Yunling cattle is a new breed of beef cattle bred in Yunnan Province, China, which has the advantages of fast growth, excellent meat quality, improved tolerance ability, and important landscape value. Copy number variation (CNV) is a significant source of gene structural variation and plays a crucial role in evolution and phenotypic diversity. Based on the latest reference genome ARS-UCD2.0, this study analyzed the genome-wide distribution of CNVs in Yunling cattle using short-read whole-genome sequencing data (n = 129) and single-molecule long-read sequencing data (n = 1), and a total of 16,507 CNVs were detected. After merging CNVs with overlapping genomic positions, 3,728 CNV regions (CNVRs) were obtained, accounting for 0.61% of the reference genome. The functional analysis indicated significant enrichment of CNVRs in 96 GO terms and 57 KEGG pathways, primarily related to cell adhesion, signal transduction, neuromodulation, and nutritional metabolism. Additionally, 111 CNVRs overlapped with 76 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), including Subcutaneous fat thickness QTL, Longissimus muscle area QTL, and Marbling score QTL. Several CNVR-overlapping genes, including BZW1, AOX1, and LOC100138449, overlap with regions associated with meat color and quality QTLs. Furthermore, Vst analysis showed that PSMB4, ERICH1, SMC2, and PPP4R3A were highly divergent between Yunling and Brahman cattle. In summary, we have constructed the genomic CNV map of Yunling cattle for the first time using whole-genome resequencing. This provides valuable genetic variation resources for the study of the Yunling cattle genome and contributes to the study of economic traits in Yunling cattle.

Chromosomal localization of mutated genes in non-syndromic familial thyroid cancer

Familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC) is a type of thyroid cancer characterized by genetic susceptibility, representing approximately 5% of all non-medullary thyroid carcinomas. While some cases of FNMTC are associated with familial multi-organ tumor predisposition syndromes, the majority occur independently. The genetic mechanisms underlying non-syndromic FNMTC remain unclear. Initial studies utilized SNP linkage analysis to identify susceptibility loci, including the 1q21 locus, 2q21 locus, and 4q32 locus, among others. Subsequent research employed more advanced techniques such as Genome-wide Association Study and Whole Exome Sequencing, leading to the discovery of genes such as IMMP2L, GALNTL4, WDR11-AS1, DUOX2, NOP53, MAP2K5, and others. But FNMTC exhibits strong genetic heterogeneity, with each family having its own pathogenic genes. This is the first article to provide a chromosomal landscape map of susceptibility genes associated with non-syndromic FNMTC and analyze their potential associations. It also presents a detailed summary of variant loci, characteristics, research methodologies, and validation results from different countries.