title: Genetic 3'UTR variation is associated with human pigmentation characteristics and sensitivity to sunlight.
abstract: Sunlight exposure induces signalling pathways leading to the activation of melanin synthesis and tanning response. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate the expression of genes involved in pigmentation pathways by binding to the complementary sequence in their 3'untranslated regions (3'UTRs). Therefore, 3'UTR SNPs are predicted to modify the ability of miRNAs to target genes, resulting in differential gene expression. In this study, we investigated the role in pigmentation and sun-sensitivity traits, as well as in melanoma susceptibility, of 38 different 3'UTR SNPs from 38 pigmentation-related genes. A total of 869 individuals of Spanish origin (526 melanoma cases and 343 controls) were analysed. The association of genotypic data with pigmentation traits was analysed via logistic regression. Web-based tools for predicting the effect of genetic variants in microRNA-binding sites in 3'UTR gene regions were also used. Seven 3'UTR SNPs showed a potential implication in melanoma risk phenotypes. This association is especially noticeable for two of them, rs2325813 in the MLPH gene and rs752107 in the WNT3A gene. These two SNPs were predicted to disrupt a miRNA-binding site and to impact on miRNA-mRNA interaction. To our knowledge, this is the first time that these two 3'UTR SNPs have been associated with sun-sensitivity traits. We state the potential implication of these SNPs in human pigmentation and sensitivity to sunlight, possibly as a result of changes in the level of gene expression through the disruption of putative miRNA-binding sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jaume I University of Castellon, Castellon, Spain.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hernando
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute - INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.|Network Centre for Biomedical Cancer Research (CIBERONC), Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peña-Chilet
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute - INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.|Network Centre for Biomedical Cancer Research (CIBERONC), Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Maider
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibarrola-Villava
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin-Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, La Paz Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gomez-Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute - INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.|Network Centre for Biomedical Cancer Research (CIBERONC), Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jaume I University of Castellon, Castellon, Spain.
authors.forename: Conrado
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5252-563X
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinez-Cadenas
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics*; D001665:Binding Sites; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005127:Eye Color / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006200:Hair Color / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007911:Lentigo / Q000235:genetics; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D065840:Protective Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*; D013030:Spain; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D060509:Wnt3A Protein / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C492410:MLPH protein, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C555510:WNT3A protein, human; D060509:Wnt3A Protein
keywords: 
  SNP
  ; 3′untranslated region; microRNA; naevus; solar lentigines