1Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2004 Nov 1690: 238-49
PMID15511631
TitleA high proportion of polymorphisms in the promoters of brain expressed genes influences transcriptional activity.
AbstractThere is increasing interest in the possibility that polymorphisms affecting gene expression are responsible for a significant proportion of heritable human phenotypic variation, including human disease. We have sought to determine if polymorphisms in the promoters of brain expressed genes are commonly functional. We screened for polymorphism 56 genes previously reported to be differentially expressed in the brains of schizophrenics [Y. Hakak, J.R. Walker, C. Li, W.H. Wong, K.L. Davis, J.D. Buxbaum, V. Haroutunian, A.A. Fienberg, Genome-wide expression analysis reveals dysregulation of myelination-related genes in chronic schizophrenia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 98 (2001) 4746-4751.]. We found 60 variants distributed across 31 of the genes. A total of 77 haplotypes representing 28 different putative promoters were analyzed in a reporter gene assay in two cell lines. Of a total of 54 sequence variants represented in the haplotypes, 12 (or around 22%) were functional according to a highly conservative definition. These were found in the promoters of eight genes: NPY, PCSK1, NEFL, KIAA0513, LMO4, HSPA1B, TF and MDH1. We therefore estimate that around 20-25% of promoter polymorphisms in brain expressed genes are functional, and this is likely to be an underestimate. Our data therefore provide for the first time empirical evidence that promoter element polymorphisms, at least in brain expressed genes, should be afforded a high priority for molecular genetic studies.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics
2Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2004 Nov 1690: 238-49
PMID15511631
TitleA high proportion of polymorphisms in the promoters of brain expressed genes influences transcriptional activity.
AbstractThere is increasing interest in the possibility that polymorphisms affecting gene expression are responsible for a significant proportion of heritable human phenotypic variation, including human disease. We have sought to determine if polymorphisms in the promoters of brain expressed genes are commonly functional. We screened for polymorphism 56 genes previously reported to be differentially expressed in the brains of schizophrenics [Y. Hakak, J.R. Walker, C. Li, W.H. Wong, K.L. Davis, J.D. Buxbaum, V. Haroutunian, A.A. Fienberg, Genome-wide expression analysis reveals dysregulation of myelination-related genes in chronic schizophrenia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 98 (2001) 4746-4751.]. We found 60 variants distributed across 31 of the genes. A total of 77 haplotypes representing 28 different putative promoters were analyzed in a reporter gene assay in two cell lines. Of a total of 54 sequence variants represented in the haplotypes, 12 (or around 22%) were functional according to a highly conservative definition. These were found in the promoters of eight genes: NPY, PCSK1, NEFL, KIAA0513, LMO4, HSPA1B, TF and MDH1. We therefore estimate that around 20-25% of promoter polymorphisms in brain expressed genes are functional, and this is likely to be an underestimate. Our data therefore provide for the first time empirical evidence that promoter element polymorphisms, at least in brain expressed genes, should be afforded a high priority for molecular genetic studies.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics
3Brain Res. 2006 Nov 1121: 1-11
PMID17010949
TitleCharacterization of KIAA0513, a novel signaling molecule that interacts with modulators of neuroplasticity, apoptosis, and the cytoskeleton.
AbstractKIAA0513 was previously identified as upregulated in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia by microarray analysis. In the present study, the differential expression in the schizophrenic subjects was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. The limited homology to proteins of known function and lack of functional domains in the encoded protein have made it difficult to predict a function for KIAA0513. We used in situ hybridization, RNA blots, western blots, and immunocytochemistry to examine KIAA0513 expression in normal brain and peripheral tissues. The gene is ubiquitously expressed but is enriched in the brain, particularly in the cerebellum. Finally, interacting proteins were identified using a yeast two-hybrid screen to functionally characterize the protein. KIAA0513 interacts with KIBRA, HAX-1, and INTS4, which also interact with proteins involved in neuroplasticity, apoptosis, and cytoskeletal regulation. Therefore, KIAA0513 is likely to be involved in signaling pathways related to these processes.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics
4Brain Res. 2006 Nov 1121: 1-11
PMID17010949
TitleCharacterization of KIAA0513, a novel signaling molecule that interacts with modulators of neuroplasticity, apoptosis, and the cytoskeleton.
AbstractKIAA0513 was previously identified as upregulated in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia by microarray analysis. In the present study, the differential expression in the schizophrenic subjects was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. The limited homology to proteins of known function and lack of functional domains in the encoded protein have made it difficult to predict a function for KIAA0513. We used in situ hybridization, RNA blots, western blots, and immunocytochemistry to examine KIAA0513 expression in normal brain and peripheral tissues. The gene is ubiquitously expressed but is enriched in the brain, particularly in the cerebellum. Finally, interacting proteins were identified using a yeast two-hybrid screen to functionally characterize the protein. KIAA0513 interacts with KIBRA, HAX-1, and INTS4, which also interact with proteins involved in neuroplasticity, apoptosis, and cytoskeletal regulation. Therefore, KIAA0513 is likely to be involved in signaling pathways related to these processes.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic, schizophrenics