Rarity of tagSNPs across transferred mtDNA inserts in human genome

The study deals with the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs, HapMap data) around the mtDNA insertions in human genome. The results obtained from this study suggest that application of tagSNP approach for large scale genotyping targeting NUMT integration sites may be difficult due to lack of informative mutations around these loci. This warrants development of new approaches to tag mtDNA inserts in genome-wide association studies.     

Rarity of TagSNPs across transferred mtDNA inserts in human genome

The study deals with the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs, HapMap data) around the mtDNA insertions in human genome. The results obtained from this study suggest that application of tagSNP approach for large scale genotyping targeting NUMT integration sites may be difficult due to lack of informative mutations around these loci. This warrants development of new approaches to tag mtDNA inserts in genome-wide association studies.     

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with form traits in three New Zealand populations of radiata pine in the presence of genotype by environment interactions

Associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with the form traits, branch cluster frequency and stem straightness, were studied in three radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) breeding populations. For branch cluster frequency, high genotype by environment (G×E) interactions were found between two sites of the POP1 trial series (Tarawera and Glenledi) and between two sites of the POP2 trial series (Tarawera and Woodhill). For stem straightness, high G×E interactions were found between two sites (Tarawera and Woodhill) in both the POP2 and POP3 trial series. Thirty-two and 26 SNPs were associated with branch cluster frequency and stem straightness respectively, across a number of sites and trial series in a genetic model assuming heterogeneous additive genetic variances across sites. These SNPs had significant associations with branch cluster frequency or stem straightness either in one site only, across sites within a trial series or across different trial series. Seven SNPs had significant associations with branch cluster frequency and seven SNPs with stem straightness across two of three trial series. One SNP had significant association with stem straightness across all three trial series. Strong G×E interactions resulted in fewer significant SNPs in common across the sites among which there were large effect differences. The percentage of genetic variance explained by SNPs showing significant associations ranged from 0.23 to 8.76 % for branch cluster frequency and from 0.37 to 12.75 % for stem straightness. This study showed that SNP effects for a trait change across environments if G×E interactions exist for that trait.     

SNPkit: an efficient approach to systematic evaluation of candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms in public databases

There is widespread interest in devising genotyping methods for SNPs that are robust, inexpensive, and simple to perform. Although several high-throughput SNP genotyping technologies have been developed, including the oligonucleotide ligation assay, real-time PCR, and mass spectrometry, the issues of simplicity and cost-effectiveness have not been adequately addressed. Here we describe the application of a novel computer software package, SNPkit, which designs SNP genotyping assays based on a classical approach for discriminating alleles, restriction enzyme digestion. SNPkit can be used in genotyping assays for almost any SNPs including those that do not alter "natural" restriction sites. Using this method, 164 SNPs have been evaluated in DNA samples from 48 immortalized cell lines of randomly selected Chinese subjects. Sixty-two (37.8%) of the SNPs appeared to be common (frequencies of the minor alleles are > or = 5%) and were subsequently applied to a larger population-based sample. Overall, by using SNPkit, we have been able to validate and genotype accurately a large fraction of publicly available SNPs without sophisticated instrumentation.     

Genetic polymorphisms and microRNAs: new direction in molecular epidemiology of solid cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, which regulate gene expression. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may occur in miRNA biogenesis pathway genes, primary miRNA, pre-miRNA or a mature miRNA sequence. Such polymorphisms may be functional with respect to biogenesis and actions of mature miRNA. Specific SNPs were identified in predicted miRNA target sites within 3' untranslated regions of mRNAs. These SNPs have a potential to affect the efficiency of miRNA binding to the target sites or can create or disrupt binding sites. Resulting gene dysregulation may involve changes in phenotype and may eventually prove critical for the susceptibility to cancer and its onset as well as for estimates of prognosis and therapy response. In this review, we provide a comprehensive list of potentially functional miRNA-related SNPs and summarize their importance as candidate cancer biomarkers.     

Joint Analysis of Functional Genomic Data and Genome-wide Association Studies of 18 Human Traits

Annotations of gene structures and regulatory elements can inform genome-wide association studies (GWASs). However, choosing the relevant annotations for interpreting an association study of a given trait remains challenging. I describe a statistical model that uses association statistics computed across the genome to identify classes of genomic elements that are enriched with or depleted of loci influencing a trait. The model naturally incorporates multiple types of annotations. I applied the model to GWASs of 18 human traits, including red blood cell traits, platelet traits, glucose levels, lipid levels, height, body mass index, and Crohn disease. For each trait, I used the model to evaluate the relevance of 450 different genomic annotations, including protein-coding genes, enhancers, and DNase-I hypersensitive sites in over 100 tissues and cell lines. The fraction of phenotype-associated SNPs influencing protein sequence ranged from around 2% (for platelet volume) up to around 20% (for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), repressed chromatin was significantly depleted for SNPs associated with several traits, and cell-type-specific DNase-I hypersensitive sites were enriched with SNPs associated with several traits (for example, the spleen in platelet volume). Finally, reweighting each GWAS by using information from functional genomics increased the number of loci with high-confidence associations by around 5%.     

Interpretation, Stratification and Evidence for Sequence Variants Affecting mRNA Splicing in Complete Human Genome Sequences

Information theory-based methods have been shown to be sensitive and specific for predicting and quantifying the effects of non-coding mutations in Mendelian diseases. We present the Shannon pipeline software for genome-scale mutation analysis and provide evidence that the software predicts variants affecting mRNA splicing. Individual information contents (in bits) of reference and variant splice sites are compared and significant differences are annotated and prioritized. The software has been implemented for CLC-Bio Genomics platform. Annotation indicates the context of novel mutations as well as common and rare SNPs with splicing effects. Potential natural and cryptic mRNA splicing variants are identified, and null mutations are distinguished from leaky mutations. Mutations and rare SNPs were predicted in genomes of three cancer cell lines (U2OS, U251 and A431), which were supported by expression analyses. After filtering, tractable numbers of potentially deleterious variants are predicted by the software, suitable for further laboratory investigation. In these cell lines, novel functional variants comprised 6-17 inactivating mutations, 1-5 leaky mutations and 6-13 cryptic splicing mutations. Predicted effects were validated by RNA-seq analysis of the three aforementioned cancer cell lines, and expression microarray analysis of SNPs in HapMap cell lines.     

Identification and Validation of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Poplar Using Publicly Expressed Sequence Tags

By using assembled expressed sequence tags （ESTs） from 14 different eDNA libraries that contain 84 132 sequences reads, 556 Populus candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） were identified. Because traces were not available from dbEST （http：//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/dbEST/index.html）, stringent filters were used to identify reliable candidate SNPs. Sequences analysis indicated that the main types of substitutions among candidate SNPs were A/G and T/C transitions, which accounted for 22.0% and 30.8%, respectively. One hundred and ten candidate SNPs were tested. As a result, 38 candidate SNPs were confirmed by directed sequencing of PCR products amplified from six different individuals. Thirteen new SNPs in intron regions were found and multiple SNPs were found to be located in both intron and exon regions of four contigs. Heterozygosis was found in all 47 candidate sites and five SNP sites were heterozygous in all six samples. This is the first report of SNP identification in a tree species which reveals that assembled ESTs from multiple libraries of the public database may provide a rich source of comparative sequences for an SNP search in the poplar genome.     

Allele-specific long-range PCR/sequencing method for allelic assignment of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms

We report an allele-specific sequencing method using allele-specific long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine if multiple (specifically, more than three) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are located on the same allele. We sequenced the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene as a model and detected four nucleotide changes, including two novel variations, in intron 4 and exons 6, 8, and 9 alpha in four of the investigated cell lines. The terminal SNPs (intron 4 and exon 9 alpha) were separated by 19 kb. Following SNP identification, the first round PCR allele-specific primers are designed at the both distal SNP sites (intron 4 and exon 9 alpha), placing the SNP positions at the primer 3'-end. Using these first round PCR products as template, the second round PCR was performed to separately amplify exons 6 and 8. These second round PCR products were subsequently sequenced. The sequencing results showed that the four SNPs were located on the same allele, i.e., forming a haplotype. This allele-specific long-range PCR/sequencing (ALP/S) method is rapid and applicable to the allelic assignment for more than three SNPs.     

Effect of ANXA2 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the development of osteonecrosis in Indian sickle cell patient: a PCR-RFLP approach

Osteonecrosis is a serious complication in sickle cell patients. The common sites of the necrosis are femoral head, head of the humerus and acetabulam. Annexin A2 (ANXA2) protein mainly functions in bone formation and bone resorption. Alteration of ANXA2 gene may affect the manifestations of osteonecrosis in the patients. PCR-RFLP is a common applicable technique for the detection of known mutation/polymorphisms. Here we are presenting application of the PCR-RFLP technique for determination of the ANXA2 gene single nucleotide polymorphism frequency and their clinical association among Indian sickle cell patients. Five known SNPs of ANXA2 gene (rs7170178, rs73435133, rs73418020, rs72746635 and rs73418025) were determined using the HpyCH4V, DdeI, HpyCH4III and Sau 961 restriction enzyme respectively. Restriction enzyme DdeI was common for rs73435133 and rs72746635 SNP. Only the rs7170178 SNP was detected among patient and control and the other four SNPs were absent in the studied groups. The frequency of ANXA2 gene rs7170178 SNP (A/G, G/G) was comparatively higher in sickle cell patients than controls and it was clinically associated with sickle cell osteonecrosis. The P value of heterozygotes (A/G) and homozygotes (G/G) genotypes were <0.001 and 0.001 respectively, which were highly significant. This study established the application of PCR-RFLP in detection of ANXA2 SNPs in sickle cell patients.     

A helper-dependent capsid-modified adenovirus vector expressing adeno-associated virus rep78 mediates site-specific integration of a 27-kilobase transgene cassette

Random integration of viral gene therapy vectors and subsequent activation or disruption of cellular genes poses safety risks. Major efforts in the field are aimed toward targeting vector integration to specific sites in the host genome. The adeno-associated virus (AAV) Rep78 protein is able to target AAV integration to a specific site on human chromosome 19, called AAVS1. We studied whether this ability could be harnessed to achieve site-specific integration of a 27-kb transgene cassette into a model cell line for human hematopoietic cells (Mo7e). To deliver rep78 and the transgene to Mo7e cells, we used helper-dependent adenovirus (Ad) vectors containing Ad serotype 35 fiber knob domains (HD-Ad). An HD-Ad vector containing the rep78 gene under the control of the globin locus control region (LCR) (Ad.LCR-rep78) conferred Rep78 expression on Mo7e cells. Upon coinfection of Ad.LCR-rep78 with an HD-Ad vector containing a 27-kb globin-LCR-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene cassette flanked by AAV inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) (Ad.AAV-LCR-GFP), transduced cells were cloned and expanded (without selection pressure), and vector integration was analyzed in clones with more than 30% GFP-positive cells. Vector integration into the AAVS1 region was seen in 30% of analyzed integration sites, and GFP expression from these integrants was stable over time. Of the remaining integration sites, 25% were within the genomic globin LCR. In almost 90% of sites, transgene integration occurred via the Ad ITR. This indicates that rescue of the AAV ITR-flanked transgene cassette from Ad.AAV-LCR-GFP is not required for Rep78-mediated integration into AAVS1 and that free ends within the vector genome can be created by breaks within the Ad ITRs, whose structure is apparently recognized by cellular "nicking" enzymes. The finding that 55% of all analyzed integration sites were either within the AAVS1 or globin LCR region demonstrates that a high frequency of targeted integration of a large transgene cassette can be achieved in human hematopoietic stem cell lines.     

BAC-based upgrading and physical integration of a genetic SNP map in Atlantic salmon

A better understanding of the genotype–phenotype correlation of Atlantic salmon is of key importance for a whole range of production, life history and conservation biology issues attached to this species. High-density linkage maps integrated with physical maps and covering the complete genome are needed to identify economically important genes and to study the genome architecture. Linkage maps of moderate density and a physical bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) fingerprint map for the Atlantic salmon have already been generated. Here, we describe a strategy to combine the linkage mapping with the physical integration of newly identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We resequenced 284 BAC-ends by PCR in 14 individuals and detected 180 putative SNPs. After successful validation of 152 sequence variations, genotyping and genetic mapping were performed in eight salmon families comprising 376 individuals. Among these, 110 SNPs were positioned on a previously constructed linkage map containing SNPs derived from expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences. Tracing the SNP markers back to the BACs enabled the integration of the genetic and physical maps by assigning 73 BAC contigs to Atlantic salmon linkage groups.     

Sites of retroviral DNA integration: From basic research to clinical applications

One of the most crucial steps in the life cycle of a retrovirus is the integration of the viral DNA (vDNA) copy of the RNA genome into the genome of an infected host cell. Integration provides for efficient viral gene expression as well as for the segregation of viral genomes to daughter cells upon cell division. Some integrated viruses are not well expressed, and cells latently infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can resist the action of potent antiretroviral drugs and remain dormant for decades. Intensive research has been dedicated to understanding the catalytic mechanism of integration, as well as the viral and cellular determinants that influence integration site distribution throughout the host genome. In this review, we summarize the evolution of techniques that have been used to recover and map retroviral integration sites, from the early days that first indicated that integration could occur in multiple cellular DNA locations, to current technologies that map upwards of millions of unique integration sites from single in vitro integration reactions or cell culture infections. We further review important insights gained from the use of such mapping techniques, including the monitoring of cell clonal expansion in patients treated with retrovirus-based gene therapy vectors, or patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). These insights span from integrase (IN) enzyme sequence preferences within target DNA (tDNA) at the sites of integration, to the roles of host cellular proteins in mediating global integration distribution, to the potential relationship between genomic location of vDNA integration site and retroviral latency.     

Increased genetic instability of the common fragile site at 3p14 after integration of exogenous DNA.

We determined previously that the selectable marker pSV2neo is preferentially inserted into chromosomal fragile sites in human x hamster hybrid cells in the presence of an agent (aphidicolin) that induces fragile-site expression. In contrast, cells transfected without fragile-site induction showed an essentially random integration pattern. To determine whether the integration of marker DNA at fragile sites affects the frequency of fragile-site expression, the parental hybrid and three transfectants (two with pSV2neo integrated at the fragile site at 3p14.2 [FRA3B] and specific hamster fragile sites [chromosome 1, bands q26-31, or mar2, bands q11-13] and one with pSV2neo integrated at sites that are not fragile sites) were treated with aphidicolin. After 24 h the two cell lines with plasmid integration at FRA3B showed structural rearrangements at that site; these rearrangements accounted for 43%-67% of the total deletions and translocations observed. Structural rearrangements were not observed in the parental cell line. After 5 d aphidicolin treatment, the observed excess in frequency of structural rearrangements at FRA3B in the cell lines with pSV2neo integration at 3p14 over that in the two lines without FRA3B integration was less dramatic, but nonetheless significant. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of these cells, using a biotin-labeled pSV2neo probe, showed results consistent with the gross rearrangements detected cytogenetically in the lines with FRA3B integration; however, the pSV2neo sequences were frequently deleted concomitantly with translocations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)