JSON
Ivansson EL, Megquier K, Kozyrev SV, Murén E, Körberg IB, Swofford R, Koltookian M, Tonomura N, Zeng R, Kolicheski AL, Hansen L, Katz ML, Johnson GC, Johnson GS, Coates JR, Lindblad-Toh K
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 113 (22) E3091-E3100 [2016-05-31; online 2016-05-16]
Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a naturally occurring neurodegenerative disease with similarities to some forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Most dogs that develop DM are homozygous for a common superoxide dismutase 1 gene (SOD1) mutation. However, not all dogs homozygous for this mutation develop disease. We performed a genome-wide association analysis in the Pembroke Welsh Corgi (PWC) breed comparing DM-affected and -unaffected dogs homozygous for the SOD1 mutation. The analysis revealed a modifier locus on canine chromosome 25. A haplotype within the SP110 nuclear body protein (SP110) was present in 40% of affected compared with 4% of unaffected dogs (P = 1.5 × 10(-5)), and was associated with increased probability of developing DM (P = 4.8 × 10(-6)) and earlier onset of disease (P = 1.7 × 10(-5)). SP110 is a nuclear body protein involved in the regulation of gene transcription. Our findings suggest that variations in SP110-mediated gene transcription may underlie, at least in part, the variability in risk for developing DM among PWCs that are homozygous for the disease-related SOD1 mutation. Further studies are warranted to clarify the effect of this modifier across dog breeds.
PubMed 27185954
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1600084113
Crossref 10.1073/pnas.1600084113
pii: 1600084113
pmc: PMC4896683
GENBANK: KP245899
GENBANK: KP245902