title: Analysis of sequence variability in the CART gene in relation to obesity in a Caucasian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) is an anorectic neuropeptide located principally in hypothalamus. CART has been shown to be involved in control of feeding behavior, but a direct relationship with obesity has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of polymorphisms within the CART gene with regards to a possible association with obesity in a Caucasian population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Screening of the entire gene as well as a 3.7 kb region of 5' upstream sequence revealed 31 SNPs and 3 rare variants; 14 of which were subsequently genotyped in 292 French morbidly obese subjects and 368 controls. Haplotype analysis suggested an association with obesity which was found to be mainly due to SNP-3608T>C (rs7379701) (p = 0.009). Genotyping additional cases and controls also of European Caucasian origin supported further this possible association between the CART SNP -3608T>C T allele and obesity (global p-value = 0.0005). Functional studies also suggested that the SNP -3608T>C could modulate nuclear protein binding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CART SNP -3608T>C may possibly contribute to the genetic risk for obesity in the Caucasian population. However confirmation of the importance of the role of the CART gene in energy homeostasis and obesity will require investigation and replication in further populations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology-CNRS UMR 8090, Pasteur Institute, Lille, France. audrey@good.ibl.fr
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guérardel
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barat-Houari
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vasseur
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dina
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vatin
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eberlé
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasseur-Delannoy
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galan
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hercberg
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Helbecque
authors.forename: Natascha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Potoczna
authors.forename: Fritz F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Horber
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boutin
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Froguel
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein