Geographical genomics of human leukocyte gene expression variation in southern Morocco.
Studies of the genetics of gene expression can identify expression SNPs (eSNPs) that explain variation in transcript abundance. Here we address the robustness of eSNP associations to environmental geography and population structure in a comparison of 194 Arab and Amazigh individuals from a city and two villages in southern Morocco. Gene expression differed between pairs of locations for up to a third of all transcripts, with notable enrichment of transcripts involved in ribosomal biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. Robust associations were observed in the leukocyte samples: cis eSNPs (P < 10(-08)) were identified for 346 genes, and trans eSNPs (P < 10(-11)) for 10 genes. All of these associations were consistent both across the three sample locations and after controlling for ancestry and relatedness. No evidence of large-effect trans-acting mediators of the pervasive environmental influence was found; instead, genetic and environmental factors acted in a largely additive manner.
Idaghdour
Youssef
Y
Department of Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Czika
Wendy
W
Shianna
Kevin V
KV
Lee
Sang H
SH
Visscher
Peter M
PM
Martin
Hilary C
HC
Miclaus
Kelci
K
Jadallah
Sami J
SJ
Goldstein
David B
DB
Wolfinger
Russell D
RD
Gibson
Greg
G
D018912:Arabs / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009018:Morocco; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D025341:Principal Component Analysis