A genome wide linkage scan for dizygotic twinning in 525 families of mothers of dizygotic twins.

BACKGROUND: The tendency to conceive dizygotic (DZ) twins is a complex trait influenced by genetic and environmental factors. To search for new candidate loci for twinning, we conducted a genome-wide linkage scan in 525 families using microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism marker panels. METHODS AND RESULTS: Non-parametric linkage analyses, including 523 families containing a total of 1115 mothers of DZ twins (MODZT) from Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) and The Netherlands (NL), produced four linkage peaks above the threshold for suggestive linkage, including a highly suggestive peak at the extreme telomeric end of chromosome 6 with an exponential logarithm of odds [(exp)LOD] score of 2.813 (P = 0.0002). Since the DZ twinning rate increases steeply with maternal age independent of genetic effects, we also investigated linkage including only families where at least one MODZT gave birth to her first set of twins before the age of 30. These analyses produced a maximum expLOD score of 2.718 (P = 0.0002), largely due to linkage signal from the ANZ cohort, however, ordered subset analyses indicated this result is most likely a chance finding in the combined dataset. Linkage analyses were also performed for two large DZ twinning families from the USA, one of which produced a peak on chromosome 2 in the region of two potential candidate genes. Sequencing of FSHR and FIGLA, along with INHBB in MODZTs from two large NL families with family specific linkage peaks directly over this gene, revealed a potentially functional variant in the 5' untranslated region of FSHR that segregated with the DZ twinning phenotype in the Utah family. CONCLUSION: Our data provide further evidence for complex inheritance of familial DZ twinning.

Computational method for estimating DNA copy numbers in normal samples, cancer cell lines, and solid tumors using array comparative genomic hybridization.

Genomic copy number variations are a typical feature of cancer. These variations may influence cancer outcomes as well as effectiveness of treatment. There are many computational methods developed to detect regions with deletions and amplifications without estimating actual copy numbers (CN) in these regions. We have developed a computational method capable of detecting regions with deletions and amplifications as well as estimating actual copy numbers in these regions. The method is based on determining how signal intensity from different probes is related to CN, taking into account changes in the total genome size, and incorporating into analysis contamination of the solid tumors with benign tissue. Hidden Markov Model is used to obtain the most likely CN solution. The method has been implemented for Affymetrix 500K GeneChip arrays and Agilent 244K oligonucleotide arrays. The results of CN analysis for normal cell lines, cancer cell lines, and tumor samples are presented. The method is capable of detecting copy number alterations in tumor samples with up to 80% contamination with benign tissue. Analysis of 178 cancer cell lines reveals multiple regions of common homozygous deletions and strong amplifications encompassing known tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes as well as novel cancer related genes.

Sequencing and assembly of highly heterozygous genome of Vitis vinifera L. cv Pinot Noir: problems and solutions.

A new approach to sequencing and assembling a highly heterozygous genome, that of grape, species Vitis vinifera cv Pinot Noir, is described. The combining of genome shotgun of paired reads produced by Sanger sequencing and sequencing by synthesis of unpaired reads was shown to be an efficient procedure for decoding a complex genome. About 2 million SNPs and more than a million heterozygous gaps have been identified in the 500 Mb genome of grape. More than 91% of the sequence assembled into 58,611 contigs is now anchored to the 19 linkage groups of V. vinifera.

A high quality draft consensus sequence of the genome of a heterozygous grapevine variety.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, grapes and their derived products have a large market. The cultivated grape species Vitis vinifera has potential to become a model for fruit trees genetics. Like many plant species, it is highly heterozygous, which is an additional challenge to modern whole genome shotgun sequencing. In this paper a high quality draft genome sequence of a cultivated clone of V. vinifera Pinot Noir is presented. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We estimate the genome size of V. vinifera to be 504.6 Mb. Genomic sequences corresponding to 477.1 Mb were assembled in 2,093 metacontigs and 435.1 Mb were anchored to the 19 linkage groups (LGs). The number of predicted genes is 29,585, of which 96.1% were assigned to LGs. This assembly of the grape genome provides candidate genes implicated in traits relevant to grapevine cultivation, such as those influencing wine quality, via secondary metabolites, and those connected with the extreme susceptibility of grape to pathogens. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distribution was consistent with a diffuse haplotype structure across the genome. Of around 2,000,000 SNPs, 1,751,176 were mapped to chromosomes and one or more of them were identified in 86.7% of anchored genes. The relative age of grape duplicated genes was estimated and this made possible to reveal a relatively recent Vitis-specific large scale duplication event concerning at least 10 chromosomes (duplication not reported before). CONCLUSIONS: Sanger shotgun sequencing and highly efficient sequencing by synthesis (SBS), together with dedicated assembly programs, resolved a complex heterozygous genome. A consensus sequence of the genome and a set of mapped marker loci were generated. Homologous chromosomes of Pinot Noir differ by 11.2% of their DNA (hemizygous DNA plus chromosomal gaps). SNP markers are offered as a tool with the potential of introducing a new era in the molecular breeding of grape.

TBC1D1 is a candidate for a severe obesity gene and evidence for a gene/gene interaction in obesity predisposition.

The molecular etiology of obesity predisposition is largely unknown. Here, we present evidence that genetic variation in TBC1D1 confers risk for severe obesity in females. We identified a coding variant (R125W) in TBC1D1 that segregated with the disease in 4p15-14-linked obesity pedigrees. In cases derived from pedigrees with the strongest linkage evidence, the variant was significantly associated with obesity (P=0.000007) and chromosomes carrying R125W accounted for the majority of the evidence that originally linked 4p15-14 with the disease. In addition, by selecting families that segregated R125W with obesity, we were able to generate highly significant linkage evidence for an obesity predisposition locus at 4q34-35. This result provides additional and confirming evidence that R125W affects obesity susceptibility, delimits the location of an obesity gene at 4q34-35 and identifies a gene/gene interaction that influences the risk for obesity predisposition. Finally, although the function of TBC1D1 is unknown, the protein is structurally similar to a known regulator of insulin-mediated Glut4 translocation.

Genome-wide linkage analyses of extended Utah pedigrees identifies loci that influence recurrent, early-onset major depression and anxiety disorders.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common, clinically heterogeneous disorder often found comorbid with other disorders. We studied recurrent, early-onset MDD (MDD-RE) and anxiety disorders in combination to define powerful phenotypes for genetic study. We used 87 large, extended Utah pedigrees to investigate linkage to 3 phenotypes: "MDD-RE;" "MDD-RE or anxiety;" and "MDD-RE and anxiety;" where in the latter definition the disorders must appear comorbid within an individual. Pedigrees ranged in size from 2 to 6 generations and contained 3 to 42 individuals affected with MDD or anxiety (718 total). In primary analyses, we identified three regions with at least suggestive genome-wide evidence for linkage on chromosomes 3centr, 7p, and 18q. Both 7p and 18q are replication findings for related phenotypes. The best linkage evidence was for a novel locus at 3p12.3-q12.3 (LOD = 3.88, "MDD-RE or anxiety") and 18q21.33-q22.2 (LOD = 3.75, "MDD-RE and anxiety"), a well-established susceptibility locus for bipolar disorder. In our secondary sex-specific analyses, we identified two further regions of interest on chromosomes 4q and 15q. Using linked pedigrees, we localized 3centr and 18q to 9.8 and 12.2 cM, respectively, with potential for further localization with the addition of markers in specific pedigrees. Our success in replication and novel locus identification illustrates the utility of large extended pedigrees for common disorders, such as MDD. Further, it supports the hypothesis that MDD and anxiety disorders have over-lapping genetic etiologies and suggests that comorbid diagnoses may be useful in defining more genetically homogeneous forms of MDD for linkage mapping.

A mutation in PCSK9 causing autosomal-dominant hypercholesterolemia in a Utah pedigree.

Familial hypercholesterolemia results from mutations in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor or apolipoprotein B genes. We have previously reported the identification of a Utah autosomal-dominant hypercholesterolemia pedigree (kindred 1173) that did not show linkage to either of these loci (Hunt et al. 2000). Expansion of the pedigree and increased marker density within the region of interest have resulted in a multipoint LOD score of 9.6 and enabled us to decrease the size of the linked region to approximately 7.5 Mbp. In addition, we were able to identify additional families sharing the same microsatellite haplotype. While all haplotype carriers in kindred 1173 (K1173) are affected, the haplotype carriers within the newly identified families are unaffected, suggesting that the causal mutation in K1173 had occurred after divergence of these pedigrees from a common ancestor. Mutation screening of genes in the region identified a single nucleotide variant (G-->T) present on the K1173 haplotype that was not present on the same haplotype in the other kindreds. This variant results in a D374Y missense change in the gene PCSK9.

Association of common missense changes in ELAC2 ( HPC2) with prostate cancer in a Japanese case-control series.

The recently identified prostate cancer susceptibility gene ELAC2 ( HPC2) harbors two common missense variants, a serine to leucine substitution at residue 217 (Leu217) and an alanine to threonine substitution at residue 541 (Thr541). We genotyped the two variants in a Japanese cohort consisting of 350 prostate cancer patients 242 male population controls, and 114 male low-risk controls. Both missense alleles, Leu217 and Thr541, were carried at higher frequency in Japanese patients than in the controls (Leu217, P= 0.0012; Thr541, P = 0.0145), and the odds ratios associated with carrying these sequence variants were higher in Japanese than in Caucasians. Although the Leu217 and Thr541 variants of ELAC2 are less common in Japanese than in Caucasians, both variants confer significantly increased risk of prostate cancer in Japanese. Carriage of these variants was not associated with age at diagnosis, tumor stage, or tumor grade in these Japanese prostate cancer patients. The allele-specific pattern of risk observed in Japanese and familial Caucasian patients was qualitatively similar; however, the magnitude of that risk was considerably greater in Japanese than in Caucasians.

A major predisposition locus for severe obesity, at 4p15-p14.

Although the predisposition to morbid obesity is heritable, the identities of the disease-causing genes are largely unknown. Therefore, we have conducted a genomewide search with 628 markers, using multigenerational Utah pedigrees to identify genes involved in predisposition to obesity. In the genomewide search, we identified a highly significant linkage to high body-mass index in female patients, at D4S2632, with a multipoint heterogeneity LOD (HLOD) score of 6.1 and a nonparametric linkage (NPL) score of 5.3. To further delineate the linkage, we increased both the marker density around D4S2632 and the size of our pedigree data set. As a result, the linkage evidence increased to a multipoint HLOD score of 9.2 (at D4S3350) and an NPL score of 11.3. Evidence from almost half of the families in this analysis support this linkage, and therefore the gene in this region might account for a significant percentage of the genetic predisposition to severe obesity in females. However, further studies are necessary to clarify the effect that this gene has in males and in the general population.

Predisposition locus for major depression at chromosome 12q22-12q23.2.

Major depression disorder is a common psychiatric disease with a major economic impact on society. In many cases, no effective treatment is available. The etiology of major depression is complex, but it is clear that the disease is, to a large extent, determined genetically, especially among individuals with a familial history of major depression, presumably through the involvement of multiple predisposition genes in addition to an environmental component. As a first step toward identification of chromosomal loci contributing to genetic predisposition to major depression, we have conducted a genomewide scan by using 628 microsatellite markers on 1,890 individuals from 110 Utah pedigrees with a strong family history of major depression. We identified significant linkage to major depression in males at marker D12S1300 (multipoint heterogeneity LOD score 4.6; P=.00003 after adjustment for multiple testing). With additional markers, the linkage evidence became highly significant, with the multipoint heterogeneity LOD score at marker D12S1706 increasing to 6.1 (P=.0000007 after adjustment for multiple testing). This study confirms the presence of one or more genes involved in psychiatric diseases on the q arm of chromosome 12 and provides strong evidence for the existence of a sex-specific predisposition gene to major depression at 12q22-q23.2.