Link Uncovered Between Variation in Humans with Extreme Body Mass and Abnormal Splicing
Friday, December 21, 2007 – Today researchers report new insights into how genetic variation may create phenotypic differences between individuals.
This study, which investigates the influence of mutations associated with obesity on the mechanism of splicing, is published
online in Genome Research ( www.genome.org ).
Many visible differences are apparent between individuals, ranging from height and weight to hair and eye color. While the
extent of genetic variation between individuals is relatively small (0.1%-0.5%), it is estimated that this variation includes
approximately 3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These single base-pair differences in the genome have previously
been thought to produce changes in the protein sequence encoded by a gene (non-synonymous SNPs). However, studies have indicated
that a significant number of SNPs do not alter the predicted protein sequence (synonymous SNPs), suggesting that other regulatory
mechanisms might be influenced.
In the study published today, a research group led by Dr. Gil Ast of Tel Aviv University has analyzed a newly described dataset
of SNPs found in individuals with extreme body mass index (BMI) values. Interestingly, nearly 40% of the SNPs associated
with obesity do not alter the protein-coding sequence of genes. “We demonstrated that the SNPs found in extreme BMI individuals
that do not alter protein sequence information affect the way genetic information is processed: these SNPs alter mRNA splicing,”
explains Amir Goren, co-lead author of the study. Splicing is the process whereby the RNA transcribed from a gene is edited
by linking together the protein-coding regions (exons) and removing the intervening, non-coding sequences (introns), generating
a mature messenger RNA (mRNA). The translation of mRNA into functional proteins requires proper maintenance of the splicing
mechanism.
Goren and colleagues find that synonymous SNPs associated with extreme BMI are located near splice sites in exons and exhibit
a tendency to reside within splicing regulatory regions, suggesting that these SNPs could alter the normal splicing pattern.
Furthermore, it was discovered that the exons harboring these SNPs exhibit weak splice sites, indicating that these exons
could be prone to reduced frequency of splicing, potentially disrupting function of the translated protein. “When a certain
exon is added only to a fraction of the mRNA molecules and not the others, the mRNA molecules without the exon cannot support
proper protein synthesis and the overall level of required protein is reduced,” describes co-lead author Eddo Kim, suggesting
that in addition to phenotypes attributable to non-synonymous SNPs, alterations in the processing of RNA due to synonymous
SNPs could also contribute to phenotypic differences and genetic disorders.
Kim suggests that it is difficult to observe severe shifts in splicing patterns that are likely to result in lethality during
development. Slight alterations in splicing are more likely to be non-fatal, yet produce a discernible phenotype. “Subtle
changes in genes that are involved, for example, in metabolism of fats might be phenotypically visible later in life as unusual
weight gain.”
While current genetic variation databases contain millions of SNPs, most were identified from a small number of individuals,
hinting that many more SNPs remain undiscovered. “Deep re-sequencing efforts could uncover many otherwise overlooked SNPs,”
explains Kim. “We might end up finding that SNPs that affect the splicing process explain many of the phenotypic differences
between individuals.”
Scientists from Tel Aviv University (Tel Aviv, Israel) and the University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
contributed to this study.
This work was supported by grants from the Israel Science Foundation, the Ber-Lehmsdorf Memorial Fund, and the Clore Scholars
Programme.
Media contacts:
Gil Ast, Ph.D., (gilast{at}post.tau.ac.il) has agreed to be contacted by email for additional information.
Interested reporters may obtain copies of the manuscript from Peggy Calicchia (calicchi{at}cshl.edu; phone +1-516-422-4012),
Editorial Secretary, Genome Research.
About the article:
The manuscript will be published online ahead of print on Friday, December 21, 2007. Its full citation is as follows:
Goren, A., Kim, E., Amit, M., Bochner, R., Lev-Maor, G., Ahituv, N., and Ast, G. 2007. Alternative approach to a heavy weight
problem. Genome Res. doi:10.1101/gr.6661308 .
About Genome Research:
Genome Research ( www.genome.org ) is an international, continuously published, peer-reviewed journal published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Press. Launched in 1995, it is one of the five most highly cited primary research journals in genetics and genomics.
About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press:
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press is an internationally renowned publisher of books, journals, and electronic media, located
on Long Island, New York. It is a division of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an innovator in life science research and the
education of scientists, students, and the public. For more information, visit www.cshlpress.com.
Genome Research issues press releases to highlight significant research studies that are published in the journal.
