Project description:Central corneal thickness (CCT) exhibits broad variability. We determined the corneal gene expression profile three mouse strains with distinct corneal thickness: C57BLKS/J (88.6 um), SJL/J (123.5 um), and C57BL/6J (100.1 um). Experiment Overall Design: Enucleated eyes from 4 month old mice were dissected in phosphate-buffered saline and a punch of central cornea was collected utilizing a 2-mm biopsy punch. Two central corneal punches (left and right eyes) were pooled from each mouse to form one sample; three samples were analyzed per strain.
Project description:White fat browning is a highly variable genetic trait in mice (Guerra et al., 1998). To gain an overview of strain variations in browning capacities, we performed transcriptome analysis of white fat browning in (1) 5 inbred mouse strains (C57BL/6J, 129S6sv/ev, A/J, AKR/J, and SWR/J) with distinct browning propensities in WAT, and (2) F1 hybrids derived from a high (129S6sv/ev) and low browning strain (C57BL/6J) cross. White fat browning is a highly variable genetic trait in mice (Guerra et al., 1998). To gain an overview of strain variations in browning capacities, we performed transcriptome analysis of white fat browning in three genetic models (Figure 1A), including (1) 5 inbred mouse strains (C57BL/6J, 129S6sv/ev, A/J, AKR/J, and SWR/J) with distinct browning propensities in WAT, (2) F1 hybrids derived from a high (129S6sv/ev) and low browning strain (C57BL/6J) cross.
Project description:To characterize the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility in detail, we used a systems genetics approach, integrating mapping of gene expression traits with sterility phenotypes and QTL. We measured genome-wide testis expression in 305 male F2s from a cross between wild-derived inbred strains of M. musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus. We identified several thousand cis- and trans-acting QTL contributing to expression variation (eQTL). Many trans eQTL cluster into eleven ‘hotspots,’ seven of which co-localize with QTL for sterility phenotypes identified in the cross. The number and clustering of trans eQTL - but not cis eQTL - were substantially lower when mapping was restricted to a ‘fertile’ subset of mice, providing evidence that trans eQTL hotspots are related to sterility. Functional annotation of transcripts with eQTL provides insights into the biological processes disrupted by sterility loci and guides prioritization of candidate genes. Using a conditional mapping approach, we identified eQTL dependent on interactions between loci, revealing a complex system of epistasis. Our results illuminate established patterns, including the role of the X chromosome in hybrid sterility.
Project description:Gene-profiling of Tregs across inbred strains. There is a wide inter-individual range in the frequency of FoxP3+ Treg cells, but little is known about the underlying genetic or epigenetic mechanisms. We explored this issue accross inbred strains of mice. During this study, we established the gene expression profiles of Treg cells from the various inbred strains of mice.
Project description:To characterize the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility in detail, we used a systems genetics approach, integrating mapping of gene expression traits with sterility phenotypes and QTL. We measured genome-wide testis expression in 305 male F2s from a cross between wild-derived inbred strains of M. musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus. We identified several thousand cis- and trans-acting QTL contributing to expression variation (eQTL). Many trans eQTL cluster into eleven M-bM-^@M-^Xhotspots,M-bM-^@M-^Y seven of which co-localize with QTL for sterility phenotypes identified in the cross. The number and clustering of trans eQTL - but not cis eQTL - were substantially lower when mapping was restricted to a M-bM-^@M-^XfertileM-bM-^@M-^Y subset of mice, providing evidence that trans eQTL hotspots are related to sterility. Functional annotation of transcripts with eQTL provides insights into the biological processes disrupted by sterility loci and guides prioritization of candidate genes. Using a conditional mapping approach, we identified eQTL dependent on interactions between loci, revealing a complex system of epistasis. Our results illuminate established patterns, including the role of the X chromosome in hybrid sterility. Gene expression was measured in whole testis in males aged 70(M-BM-15) days. Samples include 294 WSB/EiJ x PWD/PhJ F2s, 11 PWD/PhJ x WSB/EiJ F2s, 8 WSB/EiJ, 8 PWD/PhJ, 6 PWD/PhJ x WSB/EiJ F1s and 4 WSB/EiJ x PWD/PhJ F1s.
Project description:It is well established that epigenetic features, such as histone modifications and DNA methylation, are associated with gene expression across cell types. However, it is not well known how variation in genotype affects epigenetic state, or to what extent such variation contributes to variation in gene expression across genetically distinct individuals. Here we investigated the relationship between heritable epigenetic variation and gene expression in hepatocytes across nine inbred mouse strains. Eight of the inbred strains were founders of the diversity outbred (DO) mice, and the ninth was DBA/2J, which, along with C57BL/6J, is one of the founders of the BxD recombinant inbred panel of mice. We surveyed four histone modifications, H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K27me3 and H3K27ac, as well as DNA methylation. We used ChromHMM to identify 14 chromatin states representing distinct combinations of the four measured histone modifications. We found that variation in chromatin state mirrored genetic variation across the inbred strains. Furthermore, epigenetic variation was correlated with gene expression across strains. The correspondence between epigenetic state and gene expression was replicated in an independent population of DO mice in which we imputed local epigenetic state. In contrast, we found that DNA methylation did not vary across inbred strains and was not correlated with variation in expression in DO mice. This work suggests that chromatin state is highly influenced by local genotype and may be a primary mode through which expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) are mediated. We further demonstrate that strain variation in chromatin state, paired with gene expression is useful for annotation of functional regions of the mouse genome. Finally, we provide a data resource that documents variation in chromatin state across genetically distinct individuals.
Project description:It is well established that epigenetic features, such as histone modifications and DNA methylation, are associated with gene expression across cell types. However, it is not well known how variation in genotype affects epigenetic state, or to what extent such variation contributes to variation in gene expression across genetically distinct individuals. Here we investigated the relationship between heritable epigenetic variation and gene expression in hepatocytes across nine inbred mouse strains. Eight of the inbred strains were founders of the diversity outbred (DO) mice, and the ninth was DBA/2J, which, along with C57BL/6J, is one of the founders of the BxD recombinant inbred panel of mice. We surveyed four histone modifications, H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K27me3 and H3K27ac, as well as DNA methylation. We used ChromHMM to identify 14 chromatin states representing distinct combinations of the four measured histone modifications. We found that variation in chromatin state mirrored genetic variation across the inbred strains. Furthermore, epigenetic variation was correlated with gene expression across strains. The correspondence between epigenetic state and gene expression was replicated in an independent population of DO mice in which we imputed local epigenetic state. In contrast, we found that DNA methylation did not vary across inbred strains and was not correlated with variation in expression in DO mice. This work suggests that chromatin state is highly influenced by local genotype and may be a primary mode through which expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) are mediated. We further demonstrate that strain variation in chromatin state, paired with gene expression is useful for annotation of functional regions of the mouse genome. Finally, we provide a data resource that documents variation in chromatin state across genetically distinct individuals.
Project description:It is well established that epigenetic features, such as histone modifications and DNA methylation, are associated with gene expression across cell types. However, it is not well known how variation in genotype affects epigenetic state, or to what extent such variation contributes to variation in gene expression across genetically distinct individuals. Here we investigated the relationship between heritable epigenetic variation and gene expression in hepatocytes across nine inbred mouse strains. Eight of the inbred strains were founders of the diversity outbred (DO) mice, and the ninth was DBA/2J, which, along with C57BL/6J, is one of the founders of the BxD recombinant inbred panel of mice. We surveyed four histone modifications, H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3K27me3 and H3K27ac, as well as DNA methylation. We used ChromHMM to identify 14 chromatin states representing distinct combinations of the four measured histone modifications. We found that variation in chromatin state mirrored genetic variation across the inbred strains. Furthermore, epigenetic variation was correlated with gene expression across strains. The correspondence between epigenetic state and gene expression was replicated in an independent population of DO mice in which we imputed local epigenetic state. In contrast, we found that DNA methylation did not vary across inbred strains and was not correlated with variation in expression in DO mice. This work suggests that chromatin state is highly influenced by local genotype and may be a primary mode through which expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) are mediated. We further demonstrate that strain variation in chromatin state, paired with gene expression is useful for annotation of functional regions of the mouse genome. Finally, we provide a data resource that documents variation in chromatin state across genetically distinct individuals.
Project description:Despite recent advances in genomics, the identification of genes underlying complex diseases remains challenging. Inbred rat strains offer well-established experimental models to support the identification of susceptibility genes for diseases such as kidney damage associated with elevated blood pressure or hypertension. Here, we combined quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in two contrasting inbred rat strains with targeted next generation sequencing (NGS), compartment-specific transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq), and phenotype directed follow-up translational analysis.