Project description:Body weight (BW) is a critical economic trait for meat production in sheep. The current study aimed to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to detect significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with BW in Hu sheep.
Project description:We investigated whether intersecting functional genomic data (ATAC-seq + promoter focused Capture C) with increasingly powered publically available GWAS for Body Mass Index and Waist to Hip Ratio could identify additional true postiive subsignficant signals (5x10-8< P value < 5x10-4) without increasing the GWAS sample size
Project description:We investigated whether intersecting functional genomic data (ATAC-seq + promoter focused Capture C) with increasingly powered publically available GWAS for Body Mass Index and Waist to Hip Ratio could identify additional true postiive subsignficant signals (5x10-8< P value < 5x10-4) without increasing the GWAS sample size
Project description:Human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) suggest a functional role for central glutamate receptor signaling and plasticity in body weight regulation. Here, we utilize UK Biobank GWAS summary statistics of body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) to identify genes encoding for proteins known to interact with postsynaptic AMPA and NMDA receptors. Loci in/near Discs Large Homolog 4 (DLG4) and protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1) reached genome-wide significance (P<5x10-8) for BF% and/or BMI. To further evaluate the functional role of PSD-95 (gene name: DLG4) and PICK1 in energy homeostasis, we used dimeric PDZ-domain-targeting peptides of PSD-95 and PICK1 to demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of PSD-95 and PICK1 induces prolonged weight-lowering effects in obese mice. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the glutamate receptor scaffolding proteins, PICK1 and PSD-95, are genetically linked to obesity and that pharmacological targeting of their PDZ domains represents a promising new therapeutic avenue for sustained weight loss.
Project description:Abstract: Human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) suggest a functional role for central glutamate receptor signaling and plasticity in body weight regulation. Here, we utilize UK Biobank GWAS summary statistics of body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) to identify genes encoding for proteins known to interact with postsynaptic AMPA and NMDA receptors. Loci in/near Discs Large MAGUK Scaffold Protein 4 (DLG4) and protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1) reached genome-wide significance (P<5x10-8) for BF% and/or BMI. To further evaluate the functional role of PSD-95 (gene name: DLG4) and PICK1 in energy homeostasis, we used dimeric PDZ-domain-targeting peptides of PSD-95 and PICK1 to demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of PSD-95 and PICK1 induces prolonged weight-lowering effects in obese mice. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the glutamate receptor scaffolding proteins, PICK1 and PSD-95, are genetically linked to obesity and that pharmacological targeting of their PDZ domains represents a promising new therapeutic avenue for sustained weight loss.
Project description:Associated with numerous metabolic and behavioral abnormalities, obesity is classified by metrics reliant on body weight (such as body mass index). However, overnutrition is the common cause of obesity, and may independently contribute to these obesity-related abnormalities. The goal of this study is to isolate ‘diet/energy balance’ effects independent from ‘body weight’ effects on various metabolic and behavioral parameters using the Diet Switch feeding paradigm in mice. [We conducted] unbiased gene expression analysis of the nutrient-sensing circumventricular hypothalamus [using RNA-seq]. Remarkably, only two genes responded to diet/energy balance (neuropeptide y [npy] and agouti-related peptide [agrp]), while others were related only to body weight. Furthermore, linear regression models revealed that npy and agrp showed similar modifiability by diet/energy balance and body weight compared to electroencephalographic-measured sleep/wake behavior.
Project description:The aim of this study was to investigate transcriptome signatures in human subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT) before and after long-term weight changes and assess their predictive value for body weight change. Long-term body weight change in adult women associates with altered sWAT transcriptome. Expression of genes associated with inflammation, insulin response, adipogenesis and lipogenesis are linked to weight loss. However, other pathways such as protein homeostasis not only associate with but also predict future weight gain suggesting that intrinsic factors in sWAT impact tissue expansion.