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Veltsos P, Kelly JK. The quantitative genetics of gene expression in Mimulus guttatus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.21.568003. [PMID: 38045261 PMCID: PMC10690227 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.21.568003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression can be influenced by genetic variants that are closely linked to the expressed gene (cis eQTLs) and variants in other parts of the genome (trans eQTLs). We created a multiparental mapping population by sampling genotypes from a single natural population of Mimulus guttatus and scored gene expression in the leaves of 1,588 plants. We find that nearly every measured gene exhibits cis regulatory variation (91% have FDR < 0.05) and that cis eQTLs are usually allelic series with three or more functionally distinct alleles. The cis locus explains about two thirds of the standing genetic variance (on average) but varies among genes and tends to be greatest when there is high indel variation in the upstream regulatory region and high nucleotide diversity in the coding sequence. Despite mapping over 10,000 trans eQTL / affected gene pairs, most of the genetic variance generated by trans acting loci remains unexplained. This implies a large reservoir of trans acting genes with subtle or diffuse effects. Mapped trans eQTLs show lower allelic diversity but much higher genetic dominance than cis eQTLs. Several analyses also indicate that trans eQTL make a substantial contribution to the genetic correlations in expression among different genes. They may thus be essential determinants of "gene expression modules", which has important implications for the evolution of gene expression and also how it is studied by geneticists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paris Veltsos
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
- Current address: Ecology, Evolution and Genetics Research Group, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - John K. Kelly
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
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Jurrjens AW, Seldin MM, Giles C, Meikle PJ, Drew BG, Calkin AC. The potential of integrating human and mouse discovery platforms to advance our understanding of cardiometabolic diseases. eLife 2023; 12:e86139. [PMID: 37000167 PMCID: PMC10065800 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiometabolic diseases encompass a range of interrelated conditions that arise from underlying metabolic perturbations precipitated by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. While obesity, dyslipidaemia, smoking, and insulin resistance are major risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases, individuals still present in the absence of such traditional risk factors, making it difficult to determine those at greatest risk of disease. Thus, it is crucial to elucidate the genetic, environmental, and molecular underpinnings to better understand, diagnose, and treat cardiometabolic diseases. Much of this information can be garnered using systems genetics, which takes population-based approaches to investigate how genetic variance contributes to complex traits. Despite the important advances made by human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in this space, corroboration of these findings has been hampered by limitations including the inability to control environmental influence, limited access to pertinent metabolic tissues, and often, poor classification of diseases or phenotypes. A complementary approach to human GWAS is the utilisation of model systems such as genetically diverse mouse panels to study natural genetic and phenotypic variation in a controlled environment. Here, we review mouse genetic reference panels and the opportunities they provide for the study of cardiometabolic diseases and related traits. We discuss how the post-GWAS era has prompted a shift in focus from discovery of novel genetic variants to understanding gene function. Finally, we highlight key advantages and challenges of integrating complementary genetic and multi-omics data from human and mouse populations to advance biological discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron W Jurrjens
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Marcus M Seldin
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
| | - Corey Giles
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiovascular Research Translation and Implementation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Peter J Meikle
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiovascular Research Translation and Implementation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Brian G Drew
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anna C Calkin
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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