scholarly journals Genetic basis of plasticity for forage quality traits in response to water deficit in a diverse germplasm panel of alfalfa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long-Xi Yu ◽  
Bill Boge ◽  
Jinguo Hu ◽  
Steven Fransen ◽  
Steven Norberg
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Genetic Loci ◽  
Environmental Variations ◽  
Genetic Mechanisms ◽  
Response To Water

AbstractPlant phenotypic plasticity is the ability of plants to express different phenotypes in response to environmental variations. Genetic bases by which phenotypic plasticity affects plant adaptation to environmental change remain largely unknown. In the present study, we characterized 26 forage quality traits in a panel of alfalfa 198 accessions in a field trial under water deficit gradient. The regression analysis revealed that the values of fiber-related traits decreased, while those among energy-related traits increased, as water deficit increased. Genetic loci for forage quality traits were investigated by Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) under different levels of water deficit. Genetic loci associated with forage quality traits were identified and compared. Similar regions were found between energy-related traits when grand means were used for GWAS. Most of the associated markers were identified under water deficit, suggesting genetic mechanisms for forage quality traits were differ between well-watered and water stressed plants. Although GWAS on forage quality have been reported, we are the first to address the genetic factors for forage quality traits under water deficit in autotetraploid alfalfa. The information gained from the present study will be useful for the genetic improvement of alfalfa with enhanced drought/salt tolerance while maintaining forage quality.

scholarly journals Identification of genetic loci associated with forage quality in response to water deficit in autotetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sen Lin ◽  
Cesar Augusto Medina ◽  
Bill Boge ◽  
Jinguo Hu ◽  
Steven Fransen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Genetic Loci ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Response To Water

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Association Studies Identifying Multiple Loci Associated With Alfalfa Forage Quality

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sen Lin ◽  
Cesar Augusto Medina ◽  
O. Steven Norberg ◽  
David Combs ◽  
Guojie Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Feed ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Near Infrared Reflectance ◽  
Fiber Digestibility ◽  
Genome Wide

Autotetraploid alfalfa is a major hay crop planted all over the world due to its adaptation in different environments and high quality for animal feed. However, the genetic basis of alfalfa quality is not fully understood. In this study, a diverse panel of 200 alfalfa accessions were planted in field trials using augmented experimental design at three locations in 2018 and 2019. Thirty-four quality traits were evaluated by Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS). The plants were genotyped using a genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach and over 46,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained after variant calling and filtering. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 28 SNP markers associated with 16 quality traits. Among them, most of the markers were associated with fiber digestibility and protein content. Phenotypic variations were analyzed from three locations and different sets of markers were identified by GWAS when using phenotypic data from different locations, indicating that alfalfa quality traits were also affected by environmental factors. Among different sets of markers identified by location, two markers were associated with nine traits of fiber digestibility. One marker associated with lignin content was identified consistently in multiple environments. Putative candidate genes underlying fiber-related loci were identified and they are involved in the lignin and cell wall biosynthesis. The DNA markers and associated genes identified in this study will be useful for the genetic improvement of forage quality in alfalfa after the validation of the markers.

scholarly journals Genome-wide association studies identify 137 genetic loci for DNA methylation biomarkers of aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel L. McCartney ◽  
Josine L. Min ◽  
Rebecca C. Richmond ◽  
Ake T. Lu ◽  
Maria K. Sobczyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Biological Aging ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Genetic Loci ◽  
Biomarkers Of Aging ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Shared Genetic

Abstract Background Biological aging estimators derived from DNA methylation data are heritable and correlate with morbidity and mortality. Consequently, identification of genetic and environmental contributors to the variation in these measures in populations has become a major goal in the field. Results Leveraging DNA methylation and SNP data from more than 40,000 individuals, we identify 137 genome-wide significant loci, of which 113 are novel, from genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analyses of four epigenetic clocks and epigenetic surrogate markers for granulocyte proportions and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 levels, respectively. We find evidence for shared genetic loci associated with the Horvath clock and expression of transcripts encoding genes linked to lipid metabolism and immune function. Notably, these loci are independent of those reported to regulate DNA methylation levels at constituent clock CpGs. A polygenic score for GrimAge acceleration showed strong associations with adiposity-related traits, educational attainment, parental longevity, and C-reactive protein levels. Conclusion This study illuminates the genetic architecture underlying epigenetic aging and its shared genetic contributions with lifestyle factors and longevity.

scholarly journals Genetic architecture of schizophrenia: a review of major advancements

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Sophie E. Legge ◽  
Marcos L. Santoro ◽  
Sathish Periyasamy ◽  
Adeniran Okewole ◽  
Arsalan Arsalan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Architecture ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Copy Number Variants ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Genetic Loci ◽  
Significant Enrichment ◽  
High Heritability ◽  
Coding Variants

Abstract Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with high heritability. Consortia efforts and technological advancements have led to a substantial increase in knowledge of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia over the past decade. In this article, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia, outline remaining challenges, and summarise future directions of research. World-wide collaborations have resulted in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in over 56 000 schizophrenia cases and 78 000 controls, which identified 176 distinct genetic loci. The latest GWAS from the Psychiatric Genetics Consortium, available as a pre-print, indicates that 270 distinct common genetic loci have now been associated with schizophrenia. Polygenic risk scores can currently explain around 7.7% of the variance in schizophrenia case-control status. Rare variant studies have implicated eight rare copy-number variants, and an increased burden of loss-of-function variants in SETD1A, as increasing the risk of schizophrenia. The latest exome sequencing study, available as a pre-print, implicates a burden of rare coding variants in a further nine genes. Gene-set analyses have demonstrated significant enrichment of both common and rare genetic variants associated with schizophrenia in synaptic pathways. To address current challenges, future genetic studies of schizophrenia need increased sample sizes from more diverse populations. Continued expansion of international collaboration will likely identify new genetic regions, improve fine-mapping to identify causal variants, and increase our understanding of the biology and mechanisms of schizophrenia.

scholarly journals The Genetic Basis of Hypertriglyceridemia

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Germán D. Carrasquilla ◽  
Malene Revsbech Christiansen ◽  
Tuomas O. Kilpeläinen
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Genetic Loci ◽  
Risk Variants ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Severe Hypertriglyceridemia ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Polygenic Scores

Abstract Purpose of Review Hypertriglyceridemia is a common dyslipidemia associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis. Severe hypertriglyceridemia may sometimes be a monogenic condition. However, in the vast majority of patients, hypertriglyceridemia is due to the cumulative effect of multiple genetic risk variants along with lifestyle factors, medications, and disease conditions that elevate triglyceride levels. In this review, we will summarize recent progress in the understanding of the genetic basis of hypertriglyceridemia. Recent Findings More than 300 genetic loci have been identified for association with triglyceride levels in large genome-wide association studies. Studies combining the loci into polygenic scores have demonstrated that some hypertriglyceridemia phenotypes previously attributed to monogenic inheritance have a polygenic basis. The new genetic discoveries have opened avenues for the development of more effective triglyceride-lowering treatments and raised interest towards genetic screening and tailored treatments against hypertriglyceridemia. Summary The discovery of multiple genetic loci associated with elevated triglyceride levels has led to improved understanding of the genetic basis of hypertriglyceridemia and opened new translational opportunities.

scholarly journals Genome-wide association studies provide insights into the genetic determination of fruit traits of pear

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Yue Zhang ◽  
Cheng Xue ◽  
Hongju Hu ◽  
Jiaming Li ◽  
Yongsong Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Molecular Breeding ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Quality Traits ◽  
Fruit Traits ◽  
Stone Cell ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Fruit Quality Traits

AbstractPear is a major fruit tree crop distributed worldwide, yet its breeding is a very time-consuming process. To facilitate molecular breeding and gene identification, here we have performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on eleven fruit traits. We identify 37 loci associated with eight fruit quality traits and five loci associated with three fruit phenological traits. Scans for selective sweeps indicate that traits including fruit stone cell content, organic acid and sugar contents might have been under continuous selection during breeding improvement. One candidate gene, PbrSTONE, identified in GWAS, has been functionally verified to be involved in the regulation of stone cell formation, one of the most important fruit quality traits in pear. Our study provides insights into the complex fruit related biology and identifies genes controlling important traits in pear through GWAS, which extends the genetic resources and basis for facilitating molecular breeding in perennial trees.

scholarly journals Genetic overlap between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and COVID−19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J Allen ◽  
Beatriz Guillen-Guio ◽  
Emma Croot ◽  
Luke M Kraven ◽  
Samuel Moss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Genetic Loci ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genetic Overlap ◽  
Causal Variants ◽  
Shared Genetic

AbstractGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have identified genetic loci associated with both traits, suggesting possible shared biological mechanisms. Using updated GWAS of COVID-19 and IPF, we evaluated the genetic overlap between these two diseases and identified four genetic loci (including one novel) with likely shared causal variants between severe COVID-19 and IPF. Although there was a positive genetic correlation between COVID-19 and IPF, two of these four shared genetic loci had an opposite direction of effect. IPF-associated genetic variants related to telomere dysfunction and spindle assembly showed no association with COVID-19 phenotypes. Together, these results suggest there are both shared and distinct biological processes driving IPF and severe COVID-19 phenotypes.

Abstract 18836: Integrative Pathway Analysis of Genome-wide Association Studies of Carotid Plaque Phenotypes

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuqi Zhao ◽  
Sander M van der Laan ◽  
Hester M den Ruijter ◽  
Saskia Haitjema ◽  
Gerard Pasterkamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Sphingolipid Metabolism ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Plaque Composition ◽  
Genetic Loci ◽  
Genetic Components ◽  
Genome Wide

Introduction: The composition of atherosclerotic plaques differs between individuals and contributes to the incidence of cardiovascular events. A better understanding of the biology underlying variability in plaque composition will provide insights into the progression of cardiovascular diseases. We carried out genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to investigate the genetic underpinnings of the plaque. Methods: We included carotid endarterectomy patients from the Athero-Express Biobank Study (n = 1,439). We quantified the percentage of macrophages and smooth muscle cells, the number of intraplaque vessels, the amount of collagen and calcification, the atheroma size, and the presence of plaque hemorrhage. GWAS was performed for all 9 plaque traits, and combined with summary level from GWAS consortia data on coronary artery disease (CAD), and ischemic stroke. Next, these data were integrated with data from human expression quantitative trait loci analyses, and pathway analyses of the plaque traits. Results: No individual locus reached genome-wide significance, likely due to the moderate sample size involved. However, it is plausible that perturbations of diverse pathways by a large number of genetic loci with small effects together contribute to the regulation of plaque composition. We identified 42-97 pathways significantly associated with each plaque phenotype, with many specific to each trait, supporting the presence of unique genetic components of individual plaque phenotypes. We also detected 39 pathways associated with at least four plaque phenotypes, among which were CAD-associated processes such as “extracellular matrix”, “complement and coagulation cascades” and stroke-associated pathways such as “Toll-like receptor signaling”. Interestingly, we found that smooth muscle cell percentage and atheroma size shared more genetic loci and pathways with intraplaque hemorrhage (such as “Sphingolipid metabolism”); the latter trait is associated with secondary cardiovascular events. Conclusion: There are genetic correlations among plaque phenotypes as well as between plaque phenotypes that provide mechanistic insight into the composition of the plaque and progression to secondary events.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Renal Function Traits: Results from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 304-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asahi Hishida ◽  
Masahiro Nakatochi ◽  
Masato Akiyama ◽  
Yoichiro Kamatani ◽  
Takeshi Nishiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Japanese Population ◽  
Gene Locus ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Genetic Loci ◽  
Asian Populations ◽  
Genome Wide

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a rapidly growing, worldwide public health problem. Recent advances in genome-wide-association studies (GWAS) revealed several genetic loci associated with renal function traits worldwide. Methods: We investigated the association of genetic factors with the levels of serum creatinine (SCr) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Japanese population-based cohorts analyzing the GWAS imputed data with 11,221 subjects and 12,617,569 variants, and replicated the findings with the 148,829 hospital-based Japanese subjects. Results: In the discovery phase, 28 variants within 4 loci (chromosome [chr] 2 with 8 variants including rs3770636 in the LDL receptor related protein 2 gene locus, on chr 5 with 2 variants including rs270184, chr 17 with 15 variants including rs3785837 in the BCAS3 gene locus, and chr 18 with 3 variants including rs74183647 in the nuclear factor of ­activated T-cells 1 gene locus) reached the suggestive level of p < 1 × 10–6 in association with eGFR and SCr, and 2 variants on chr 4 (including rs78351985 in the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein gene locus) fulfilled the suggestive level in association with the risk of CKD. In the replication phase, 25 variants within 3 loci (chr 2 with 7 variants, chr 17 with 15 variants and chr 18 with 3 variants) in association with eGFR and SCr, and 2 variants on chr 4 associated with the risk of CKD became nominally statistically significant after Bonferroni correction, among which 15 variants on chr 17 and 3 variants on chr 18 reached genome-wide significance of p < 5 × 10–8 in the combined study meta-analysis. The associations of the loci on chr 2 and 18 with eGFR and SCr as well as that on chr 4 with CKD risk have not been previously reported in the Japanese and East Asian populations. Conclusion: Although the present GWAS of renal function traits included the largest sample of Japanese participants to date, we did not identify novel loci for renal traits. However, we identified the novel associations of the genetic loci on chr 2, 4, and 18 with renal function traits in the Japanese population, suggesting these are transethnic loci. Further investigations of these associations are expected to further validate our findings for the potential establishment of personalized prevention of renal disease in the Japanese and East Asian populations.

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