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Identification of QTLs influencing wood property traits in loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.). II. Chemical wood properties.

Chemical wood property traits were analyzed for the presence of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in a three-generation outbred pedigree of loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.). These traits were assayed using pyrolysis molecular beam mass spectrometry and include mass spectrum peak intensities associated with carbohydrates, alpha-cellulose and hemicellulose sugars, and lignin. Models for projection to latent structures (PLS) were used to also estimate the chemical composition of cell walls (i.e., alpha-cellulose, galactan and lignin) from mass spectrum data using multivariate regression. Both earlywood and latewood fractions from the fifth annual ring were analyzed for each trait. An interval mapping approach designed for an outbred pedigree was used to estimate the number of QTLs, the magnitude of QTL effects, and their genomic position. Eight unique QTLs influencing cell wall chemistry were detected from multiple peak intensities and/or PLS estimates using the one- and two-QTL models. Significant differences in chemical contents were observed among the populations from North Carolina vs Oklahoma, and results from QTLxenvironment analyses suggest that QTLs interact with environmental location. QTLs should be verified in larger experiments and in different genetic and environmental backgrounds. QTL mapping will help towards eventually identifying genes having a major effect on chemical wood properties.

Journal Article↗

From genetical genomics to systems genetics: potential applications in quantitative genomics and animal breeding.

This article reviews methods of integration of transcriptomics (and equally proteomics and metabolomics), genetics, and genomics in the form of systems genetics into existing genome analyses and their potential use in animal breeding and quantitative genomic modeling of complex traits. Genetical genomics or the expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping method and key findings in this research are reviewed. Various procedures and potential uses of eQTL mapping, global linkage clustering, and systems genetics are illustrated using actual analysis on recombinant inbred lines of mice with data on gene expression (for diabetes- and obesity-related genes), pathway, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) linkage maps. Experimental and bioinformatics difficulties and possible solutions are discussed. The main uses of this systems genetics approach in quantitative genomics were shown to be in refinement of the identified QTL, candidate gene and SNP discovery, understanding gene-environment and gene-gene interactions, detection of candidate regulator genes/eQTL, discriminating multiple QTL/eQTL, and detection of pleiotropic QTL/eQTL, in addition to its use in reconstructing regulatory networks. The potential uses in animal breeding are direct selection on heritable gene expression measures, termed "expression assisted selection," and genetical genomic selection of both QTL and eQTL based on breeding values of the respective genes, termed "expression-assisted evaluation."

Animals↗

An endothelial RNA splicing atlas catalogs effects of IL-1β and identifies an alternative PROCR isoform with genetic links to pleiotropic vascular disease.

Alternative splicing (AS) alters the sequence and dynamics of mRNA but has not been comprehensively annotated in human endothelial cells (ECs). EC dysfunction is a hallmark of complex inflammatory diseases, including cancer and atherosclerosis. Therefore, we modeled inflammation in vitro using 53 genetically distinct human aortic EC lines exposed to interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or control media. This identified 1,224 differentially spliced transcripts (DSTs). DSTs were enriched for alternative first (AF) exon usage, including isoforms of several disease-associated and metabolic genes. To confirm that IL-1β-dependent AF exons were produced by alternative promoters, a quantitative measure of promoter activity was defined using epigenetic data. Ratios of histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation and binding of ERG and RELA between alternative promoters correlated RNA levels of AF exons, confirming our hypothesis. Finally, the effects of genetic variation on AS were investigated by mapping splicing quantitative trait loci (sQTLs). Significant sQTLs were tested for genetic colocalization with cardiovascular risk loci from genome-wide association studies. This identified 66 colocalized signals corresponding to 30 genes and 39 lead variants. The sQTLs identified here provide testable mechanisms explaining some of the genetic risk for vascular disease. For example, genetic association for a previously undescribed isoform of endothelial protein C receptor (PROCR) colocalized with genetic risk for deep vein thrombosis and coronary artery disease with opposing risk alleles. This study demonstrates the prevalence of inducible promoters upon inflammatory stimuli and shows that genetic risk for vascular disease may be in part governed through AS in ECs.

Humans↗

Supportive evidence for an allelic association of the human KCNJ10 potassium channel gene with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

PURPOSE: Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping in mice revealed a seizure-related QTL (Szs1), for which the inward-rectifying potassium channel Kcnj10 is the most compelling candidate gene. Association analysis of the human KCNJ10 gene identified a common KCNJ10 missense variation (Arg271Cys) that influences susceptibility to focal and generalized epilepsies. The present replication study tested the initial finding that the KCNJ10 Cys271 allele is associated with seizure resistance to common syndromes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). METHODS: The study sample comprised 563 German IGE patients and 660 healthy population controls. To search for seizure type-specific effects, two IGE subgroups were formed, comprising 258 IGE patients with typical absences (IAE group) and 218 patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME group). A TaqMan nuclease assay was used to genotype the KCNJ10 single nucleotide polymorphism c.1037C > T (dbSNP: rs1130183) that alters amino acid at position 271 from arginine to cysteine. RESULTS: Replication analysis revealed a significant decrease of the Cys271 allele frequency in 446 IGE patients compared to controls (chi2 = 3.52, d.f. = 1, P = 0.030, one-sided; OR(Cys271+) = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50-0.95). Among the IGE subgroups, lack of the Cys271 allele was accentuated in the JME group (chi2 = 5.20, d.f. = 1, P = 0.011, one-sided). CONCLUSION: Our results support previous evidence that the common KCNJ10 Arg271Cys missense variation influences seizure susceptibility of common IGE syndromes.

Alleles↗

Correlation of susceptibility to 6-aminonicotinamide and hydrocortisone-induced cleft palate.

Our previous genome-wide Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping study using mouse A/J by C57BL/6J recombinant inbred (RI) lines suggested several chromosomal regions contain genes influencing susceptibility to phenytoin (PT)-induced cleft lip with or without cleft palate [CL(P)] and 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN)-induced isolated cleft palate (CP). Importantly, the same chromosomal regions but different RI parental strain alleles were sometimes implicated in susceptibility to these different kinds of orofacial clefting. Here we report the susceptibility to hydrocortisone (HC)-induced CP in these RI lines. We treated pregnant females with HC and studied the incidence of CP in day 17 fetuses. RI lines showed highly correlated responses to HC and 6-AN. The A/J parental line and five RI lines showed very high levels of clefting in response to both of these teratogens. The C57BL/6J parental line and five other RI lines exhibited low incidence of CP for these teratogens. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between incidence of PT-induced CL(P) and HC-induced CP.

6-Aminonicotinamide↗

Identification and functional significance of polymorphisms in the mu-opioid receptor gene (Oprm) promoter of C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice.

C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice demonstrate differences in morphine preference when tested in a two-bottle choice paradigm. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping suggested the proximal region of chromosome 10 was responsible for 41% of the observed genetic variance. The mu-opioid receptor (MOR) gene (Oprm) maps to this region and is a prime candidate for explaining the QTL. We hypothesized that variations in Oprm between these strains are responsible for differences in morphine preference. We identify five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Oprm promoter; three within or near putative transcription factor binding sites. Promoter fragments were amplified from genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subcloned into luciferase reporter vectors. A significant difference in basal Oprm promoter activity was seen with C57BL/6 and DBA/2 approximately 1675 constructs in MOR-positive BE(2)-C cells, but not in MOR-negative Neuro-2a cells. In BE(2)-C cells, average DBA/2 approximately 1675 construct activity was 1.3-2.0x greater than average C57BL/6 activity suggesting that the SNPs might alter MOR expression in these two mouse strains. Significant differences in promoter activities between the two cell lines suggest that cell-type-specific transcription factors are involved. No significant differences in construct activity were found between untreated and morphine-treated BE(2)-C or Neuro-2a cells, suggesting that morphine does not regulate transcription of Oprm.

Animals↗

Inbred mouse strain survey of sucrose intake.

Mouse strain differences for intake of sucrose and saccharin have been reported across studies, and some of these differences have been related to variants of the Tas1r3 taste receptor gene. However, several methodological concerns remain, including use of relatively few strains and/or a limited number of palatable concentrations in previous analyses. The present study examined strain differences in sucrose intake among 11 inbred (A/J, AKR/J, BALB/cJ, CBA/J, C3H/HeJ, C57BL6/J, C57BL10/J, DBA/2J, SJL/J, SWR/J, 129P3/J) and one outbred (CD-1) mouse strains across nine different sucrose concentrations (0.0001-20%) using two-bottle 24-h preference tests which controlled for sucrose concentration presentation effects, sucrose and water bottle positions, and measurement of kilocalorie intake as sucrose or chow. A/J, C57BL/6J, CD-1 and SWR/J strains consumed the greatest (11.6-22 ml) amount of sucrose, whereas the A/J, C57BL/10J, SJL/J and SWR/J strains consumed the greatest (44-56%) percentages of kilocalories as sucrose. The AKR/J, CBA/J, C3H/HeJ and DBA/2J strains consumed the least (6.9-7.9 ml) amount of sucrose, and displayed lower (20-30%) percentages of kilocalories consumed as sucrose. Whereas A/J, C57BL/6J, C57BL/10J, CD-1, SWR/J and SJL/J strains all displayed the most pronounced compensatory decreases in chow intake as the percentage of kilocalories consumed as sucrose increased, the AKR/J, C3H/HeJ and DBA/2J strains failed to significantly alter chow intake even at high sucrose concentrations. There was a paucity of significant correlations in the percentage of sucrose intake between sucrose concentrations, but percentage of sucrose intake at lower concentrations did correlate with previous descriptions of saccharin intake and variants of the Tas1r3 taste receptor gene. These data demonstrate clear mouse strain differences across a range of measures in sucrose intake across a wide range of concentrations, but caution against extrapolating between extremely high and low concentrations. The identification of strains with diverging abilities to regulate kilocalorie intake when presented with high sucrose concentrations may lead to the successful QTL mapping of this trait.

Animals↗

Genetic dissection of cardiac iron regulation using transcriptome network analysis and systems genetics in BXD mice.

Cardiac iron homeostasis is essential for myocardial energy metabolism and contractile function, yet the genetic and molecular mechanisms governing iron levels within the heart remain poorly understood. We used a systems genetics approach to dissect the transcriptional regulation of cardiac iron homeostasis. Myocardial iron level varies substantially across BXD strains (40-112 μg/g) and is under heritable genetic control (H2 = 0.38). Elevated cardiac iron is associated with reduced ventricular mass, increased ventricular ectopy, and prolonged atrioventricular conduction in the BXD population. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of the BXD heart transcriptome identified a co-expression module that was significantly and negatively correlated with cardiac iron levels in both young and old BXD mice and enriched for pathways related to metabolic regulation, cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling, circadian entrainment, and cardiovascular physiology. The module showed substantial overlap with a curated cardiac iron gene set, and cross-species enrichment analysis confirmed its conservation in human cardiomyopathy differentially expressed genes (enrichment ratio = 1.49; false discovery rate [FDR] = 0.0342). Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of the first principal component of the overlapping module iron genes (n = 38), corroborated by individual gene mapping, identified trans-eQTL hotspots on multiple chromosomes, implicating Fcho2, Gcc2, and Rmdn1 as candidate upstream regulators operating through sequential steps of intracellular iron trafficking. Together, these findings establish a systems-level map of cardiac iron gene regulation, identify candidate genetic regulators, and provide a molecular framework linking disruption of iron-related transcriptional networks to structural and electrical cardiac dysfunction with implications for iron-related heart diseases.

BXD mouse population↗

Strong Amerind/white sex bias and a possible Sephardic contribution among the founders of a population in northwest Colombia.

Historical and genetic evidences suggest that the recently founded population of Antioquia (Colombia) is potentially useful for the genetic mapping of complex traits. This population was established in the 16th-17th centuries through the admixture of Amerinds, Europeans, and Africans and grew in relative isolation until the late 19th century. To examine the origin of the founders of Antioquia, we typed 11 markers on the nonrecombining portion of the Y chromosome and four markers on mtDNA in a sample of individuals with confirmed Antioquian ancestry. The polymorphisms on the Y chromosome (five biallelic markers and six microsatellites) allow an approximation to the origin of founder men, and those on mtDNA identify the four major founder Native American lineages. These data indicate that approximately 94% of the Y chromosomes are European, 5% are African, and 1% are Amerind. Y-chromosome data are consistent with an origin of founders predominantly in southern Spain but also suggest that a fraction came from northern Iberia and that some possibly had a Sephardic origin. In stark contrast with the Y-chromosome, approximately 90% of the mtDNA gene pool of Antioquia is Amerind, with the frequency of the four Amerind founder lineages being closest to Native Americans currently living in the area. These results indicate a highly asymmetric pattern of mating in early Antioquia, involving mostly immigrant men and local native women. The discordance of our data with blood-group estimates of admixture suggests that the number of founder men was larger than that of women.

Africa, Northern↗

AFLP genotyping and fingerprinting.

Amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) are polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based markers for the rapid screening of genetic diversity. AFLP methods rapidly generate hundreds of highly replicable markers from DNA of any organism; thus, they allow high-resolution genotyping of fingerprinting quality. The time and cost efficiency, replicability and resolution of AFLPs are superior or equal to those of other markers [allozymes, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), microsatellites], except that AFLP methods primarily generate dominant rather than co-dominant markers. Because of their high replicability and ease of use, AFLP markers have emerged as a major new type of genetic marker with broad application in systematics, pathotyping, population genetics, DNA fingerprinting and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping.

Journal Article↗

Medical implications of understanding complex disease traits.

The application of genetic mapping to human disease gene identification has led to the definition of many linkages and a few disease genes in complex traits over the past two years. Its application has also increased to include aspects of pharmacogenetics relating to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Animals↗

The role of ACE2 in cardiovascular physiology.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is critically involved in cardiovascular and renal function and in disease conditions, and has been shown to be a far more complex system than initially thought. A recently discovered homologue of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)--ACE2--appears to negatively regulate the RAS. ACE2 cleaves Ang I and Ang II into the inactive Ang 1-9 and Ang 1-7, respectively. ACE2 is highly expressed in kidney and heart and is especially confined to the endothelium. With quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, ACE2 was defined as a QTL on the X chromosome in rat models of hypertension. In these animal models, kidney ACE2 messenger RNA and protein expression were markedly reduced, making ACE2 a candidate gene for this QTL. Targeted disruption of ACE2 in mice failed to elicit hypertension, but resulted in severe impairment in myocardial contractility with increased angiotensin II levels. Genetic ablation of ACE in the ACE2 null mice rescued the cardiac phenotype. These genetic data show that ACE2 is an essential regulator of heart function in vivo. Basal renal morphology and function were not altered by the inactivation of ACE2. The novel role of ACE2 in hydrolyzing several other peptides-such as the apelin peptides, opioids, and kinin metabolites-raises the possibility that peptide systems other than angiotensin and its derivatives also may have an important role in regulating cardiovascular and renal function.

Angiotensin II↗

Radiation in the Cape flora and the phylogeny of peacock irises Moraea (Iridaceae) based on four plastid DNA regions.

Phylogenetic analyses of four plastid DNA regions, the rbcL exon, trnL intron, trnL-trnF intergenic spacer, and rps16 intron from each of 73 species in the African genus Moraea (Iridaceae: Irideae) including accessions of all major species clusters in the genus, show Moraea to be paraphyletic when Barnardiella, Galaxia, Hexaglottis, Homeria (all southern African), and Gynandriris (Eurasian as well) were recognized as separate genera. There are several small, isolated species clusters at the basal nodes of the tree that are all restricted to the winter-rainfall zone of southern Africa (the Greater Cape floral kingdom) and a few, highly derived, large species groups that have radiated extensively within the winter-rainfall zone. Mapping of floral traits shows that an Iris-type flower is ancestral in Moraea. Floral changes are associated with shifts in pollination systems, either from passive pollen deposition on long-tongued bees foraging for nectar to active pollen collection by female bees foraging for pollen, fly, or hopliine scarab beetle pollination. Dating the nodes of the phylogenetic tree using non-parametric rate smoothing with a calibration point derived from broad dating of the angiosperms indicates that the divergence between Moraea and its sister genus Ferraria occurred about 25 mya in the early Miocene. The early radiation of Moraea took place against a background of aridification and the spread of open habitats, such as desert, shrubland, and fynbos.

Evolution, Molecular↗

A microsatellite polymorphism in the gamma interferon gene is associated with resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes in a naturally-parasitized population of Soay sheep.

Free-living Soay sheep (Ovis aries) on the island of Hirta, St Kilda, Scotland, are naturally parasitized by gastrointestinal nematodes, predominantly Teladorsagia circumcincta. In this paper we show that reduced faecal egg counts (FEC) are associated with an allele at a microsatellite locus located in the first intron of the interferon gamma gene (o(IFN)-gamma) in Soay sheep lambs and yearlings, measured at approximately 4 and 16 months of age, respectively. The same allele was also associated with increased T. circumcincta-specific antibody (IgA) in lambs, but not associated significantly in yearlings. Flanking control markers failed to show a significant association with either FEC or IgA. These results suggest that a polymorphic gene conferring increased resistance to gastrointestinal nematode parasites is located at or near the interferon gamma gene, and support previous reports which have mapped a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for resistance to this region in domestic sheep. Our data are consistent with the idea that a functional polymorphism leading to reduced expression or efficacy of (IFN)-gamma could enhance the immune response to gastrointestinal nematodes by favouring the activity of the Th2 cell subset and antibody associated immune mechanisms.

Animals↗

Genetics and culture: the geneticization thesis.

The concept of 'geneticization' has been introduced in the scholarly literature to describe the various interlocking and imperceptible mechanisms of interaction between medicine, genetics, society and culture. It is argued that Western culture currently is deeply involved in a process of geneticization. This process implies a redefinition of individuals in terms of DNA codes, a new language to describe and interpret human life and behavior in a genomic vocabulary of codes, blueprints, traits, dispositions, genetic mapping, and a gentechnological approach to disease, health and the body. This article analyses the thesis of 'geneticization'. Explaining the implications of the thesis, and discussing the critical refutations, it is argued that 'geneticization' primarily is a heuristic tool that can help to re-focus the moral debate on the implications of new genetic knowledge towards interpersonal relations, the power of medicine, the cultural context and social constraints, rather than emphasizing issues as personal autonomy and individual rights.

Bioethics↗

Behavioural and physiological characterization of inbred mouse strains: prospects for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of mammalian learning and memory.

With the advent of recombinant DNA methodology, it has become possible to dissect the molecular mechanisms of complex traits, including brain function and behaviour. The increasing amount of available information on the genomes of mammalian organisms, including our own, has facilitated this research. The present review focuses on a somewhat neglected area of genetics, one that involves the study of inbred mouse strains. It is argued that the use of inbred mice is complementary to transgenic approaches in the analysis of molecular mechanisms of complex traits. Whereas transgenic technology allows one to manipulate a single gene and investigate the in vivo effects of highly specific, artificially induced mutations, the study of inbred mouse strains should shed light on the roles of naturally occurring allelic variants in brain function and behaviour. Systematic characterization of the behavioural, electrophysiological, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical properties of a large number of inbred strains is required to elucidate mechanisms of mammalian brain function and behaviour. In essence, a 'mouse phenome' project is needed, entailing the construction of databases to investigate possible causal relationships amongst the phenotypical characteristics. This review focuses on electrophysiological and behavioural characterization of mouse strains. Nevertheless, it is emphasized that the full potential of the analysis of inbred mouse strains may be attained if techniques of numerous disciplines, including gene expression profiling, biochemical analysis, and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, to name but a few, are also included.

Animals↗

A general approach to single-nucleotide polymorphism discovery.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most abundant form of human genetic variation and a resource for mapping complex genetic traits. The large volume of data produced by high-throughput sequencing projects is a rich and largely untapped source of SNPs (refs 2, 3, 4, 5). We present here a unified approach to the discovery of variations in genetic sequence data of arbitrary DNA sources. We propose to use the rapidly emerging genomic sequence as a template on which to layer often unmapped, fragmentary sequence data and to use base quality values to discern true allelic variations from sequencing errors. By taking advantage of the genomic sequence we are able to use simpler yet more accurate methods for sequence organization: fragment clustering, paralogue identification and multiple alignment. We analyse these sequences with a novel, Bayesian inference engine, POLYBAYES, to calculate the probability that a given site is polymorphic. Rigorous treatment of base quality permits completely automated evaluation of the full length of all sequences, without limitations on alignment depth. We demonstrate this approach by accurate SNP predictions in human ESTs aligned to finished and working-draft quality genomic sequences, a data set representative of the typical challenges of sequence-based SNP discovery.

Algorithms↗

Genetic diversity of Collaborative Cross mice implicates FFAR3 as a target for ILC2 anti-inflammatory reprogramming.

Pulmonary group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are key drivers of Type 2 inflammation in diseases like asthma, yet the molecular mechanisms regulating their function are incompletely understood. Using the genetically diverse Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse panel, we mapped a quantitative trait locus (QTL) that governs ILC2 prevalence in the lung after aeroallergen exposure. This QTL induces a large population of ILC2s in the lung that are resistant to activation and have diminished Type 2 effector function. We identified free-fatty acid receptor 3 (Ffar3) as a gene responsible for this effect and demonstrated that FFAR3 signaling reprograms ILC2s to an anti-inflammatory state by promoting their survival, reducing Type 2 cytokine production, and enhancing IL-10 expression. This anti-inflammatory state is dependent on IL-2 signaling, is characterized by decreased ST2 expression, and is distinct from previously described IL-10-producing ILC2 phenotypes. FFAR3-dependent reprogramming is mediated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) upregulation, and FFAR3's anti-inflammatory effect is partially conserved in human ILC2s.

Animals↗