Mutations in TFAP2B and previously unimplicated genes of the BMP, Wnt, and Hedgehog pathways in syndromic craniosynostosis
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Authors: Timberlake, Andrew T.; Jin, Sheng Chih; Nelson-Williams, Carol; Wu, Robin; Furey, Charuta G.; Islam, Barira; Haider, Shozeb; Loring, Erin; Galm, Amy; Steinbacher, Derek M.; Larysz, Dawid; Staffenberg, David A.; Flores, Roberto L.; Rodriguez, Eduardo D.; Boggon, Titus J.; Persing, John A.; Lifton, Richard P.
Abstract
Craniosynostosis (CS) is a frequent congenital anomaly featuring the premature fusion of 1 or more sutures of the cranial vault. Syndromic cases, featuring additional congenital anomalies, make up 15% of CS. While many genes underlying syndromic CS have been identified, the cause of many syndromic cases remains unknown. We performed exome sequencing of 12 syndromic CS cases and their parents, in whom previous genetic evaluations were unrevealing. Damaging de novo or transmitted loss of function (LOF) mutations were found in 8 genes that are highly intolerant to LOF mutation (P = 4.0 x 10(-8)); additionally, a rare damaging mutation in SOX11, which has a lower level of intolerance, was identified. Four probands had rare damaging mutations (2 de novo) in TFAP2B, a transcription factor that orchestrates neural crest cell migration and differentiation; this mutation burden is highly significant (P = 8.2 x 10(-12)). Three probands had rare damaging mutations in GLI2, SOX11, or GPC4, which function in the Hedgehog, BMP, and Wnt signaling pathways; other genes in these pathways have previously been implicated in syndromic CS. Similarly, damaging de novo mutations were identified in genes encoding the chromatin modifier KAT6A, and CTNNA1, encoding catenin alpha-1. These findings establish TFAP26 as a CS gene, have implications for assessing risk to subsequent children in these families, and provide evidence implicating other genes in syndromic CS. This high yield indicates the value of performing exome sequencing of syndromic CS patients when sequencing of known disease loci is unrevealing.
Obesity Susceptibility Loci and Uncontrolled Eating, Emotional Eating and Cognitive Restraint Behaviors in Men and Women
OBESITY
Authors: Cornelis, Marilyn C.; Rimm, Eric B.; Curhan, Gary C.; Kraft, Peter; Hunter, David J.; Hu, Frank B.; van Dam, Rob M.
Abstract
Objective: Many confirmed genetic loci for obesity are expressed in regions of the brain that regulate energy intake and reward-seeking behavior. Whether these loci contribute to the development of specific eating behaviors has not been investigated. The relationship between a genetic susceptibility to obesity and cognitive restraint, uncontrolled and emotional eating was examined. Methods: Eating behavior and body mass index (BMI) were determined by questionnaires for 1471 men and 2381 women from two US cohorts. Genotypes were extracted from genome-wide scans and a genetic-risk score (GRS) derived from 32 obesity-loci was calculated. Results: The GRS was positively associated with emotional and uncontrolled eating (P < 0.002). In exploratory analysis, BMI-increasing variants of MTCH2, TNNI3K, and ZC3H4 were positively associated with emotional eating and those of TNNI3K and ZC3H4 were positively associated with uncontrolled eating. The BMI-increasing variant of FTO was positively and those of LRP1B and TFAP2B were inversely associated with cognitive restraint. These associations for single SNPs were independent of BMI but were not significant after multiple-testing correction. Conclusions: An overall genetic susceptibility to obesity may also extend to eating behaviors. The link between specific loci and obesity may be mediated by eating behavior but larger studies are warranted to confirm these results.