title: Polymorphisms in B3GAT1, SLC9A9 and MGAT5 are associated with variation within the human plasma N-glycome of 3533 European adults.
abstract: The majority of human proteins are post-translationally modified by covalent addition of one or more complex oligosaccharides (glycans). Alterations in glycosylation processing are associated with numerous diseases and glycans are attracting increasing attention both as disease biomarkers and as targets for novel therapeutic approaches. Using a recently developed high-throughput high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis method, we have reported, in a pilot genome-wide association study of 13 glycan features in 2705 individuals from three European populations, that polymorphisms at three loci (FUT8, FUT6/FUT3 and HNF1A) affect plasma levels of N-glycans. Here, we extended the analysis to 33 directly measured and 13 derived glycosylation traits in 3533 individuals and identified three novel gene association (MGAT5, B3GAT1 and SLC9A9) as well as replicated the previous findings using an additional European cohort. MGAT5 (meta-analysis association P-value = 1.80 × 10(-10) for rs1257220) encodes a glycosyltransferase which is known to synthesize the associated glycans. In contrast, neither B3GAT1 (rs7928758, P = 1.66 × 10(-08)) nor SLC9A9 (rs4839604, P = 3.50 × 10(-13)) had previously been associated functionally with glycosylation of plasma proteins. Given the glucuronyl transferase activity of B3GAT1, we were able to show that glucuronic acid is present on antennae of plasma glycoproteins underlying the corresponding HPLC peak. SLC9A9 encodes a proton pump which affects pH in the endosomal compartment and it was recently reported that changes in Golgi pH can impair protein sialylation, giving a possible mechanism for the observed association.
authors: MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK. jennifer.huffman@hgu.mrc.ac.uk
authors: Jennifer E
authors: JE
authors: Huffman
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Knezevic
authors: Veronique
authors: V
authors: Vitart
authors: Jayesh
authors: J
authors: Kattla
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Adamczyk
authors: Mislav
authors: M
authors: Novokmet
authors: Wilmar
authors: W
authors: Igl
authors: Maja
authors: M
authors: Pucic
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Zgaga
authors: Åsa
authors: Å
authors: Johannson
authors: Irma
authors: I
authors: Redzic
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Gornik
authors: Tatijana
authors: T
authors: Zemunik
authors: Ozren
authors: O
authors: Polasek
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Kolcic
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Pehlic
authors: Carolien A M
authors: CA
authors: Koeleman
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Campbell
authors: Sarah H
authors: SH
authors: Wild
authors: Nicholas D
authors: ND
authors: Hastie
authors: Harry
authors: H
authors: Campbell
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: Gyllensten
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Wuhrer
authors: James F
authors: JF
authors: Wilson
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Hayward
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Rudan
authors: Pauline M
authors: PM
authors: Rudd
authors: Alan F
authors: AF
authors: Wright
authors: Gordan
authors: G
authors: Lauc
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; C478541:SLC9A9 protein, human; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; C479741:MGAT5B protein, human; D017351:N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases; C111364:galactosylgalactoylxylosylprotein 3-beta-glucuronosyltransferase; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase