Studying genetic variants - even rare ones - helps us learn how genes
affect health and disease," said Karen Mohlke, PhD, one of the study's
senior authors and associate professor of genetics at the University of
North Carolina School of Medicine. "In this study, we've implicated new
genes as playing a role in insulin processing and secretion."
The study is also the first time genetic insights have been reported
using exome array genotyping, a new tool that is less costly than
genetic sequencing. This analysis allows scientists to quickly screen
DNA samples for known variants in specific genes. It is especially
helpful for testing variants that are rare.
"The exome array allowed us to test a large number of individuals - in
this case, more than 8,000 people - very efficiently," said Mohlke. "We
expect that this type of analysis will be useful for finding
low-frequency variants associated with many complex traits, including obesity or cancer."
The scientists pulled data from a large health study directed by
researchers at the University of Eastern Finland. A research team
including postdoctoral scientist Jeroen Huyghe at the University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor led the statistical analysis, which integrated
genetic data and detailed health records for a sample of 8,229 Finnish
males.
Diabetes, which affects more than 25 million people in the United
States, results from problems with the body's ability to produce or use
insulin. Rather than pinpointing one gene behind the disease, scientists
believe there are a whole host of genes that interact with health and
lifestyle factors to influence a person's chances of getting the
disease.
The study revealed that certain variants of three genes - called
TBC1D30, KANK1 and PAM - are associated with abnormal insulin production
or processing, even in people without diabetes. The genes may
predispose such individuals to developing the disease.
As a next step, the researchers plan to continue to investigate how
these genes may lead to diabetes. They also expect the results will
inspire other scientists to use exome analysis to look at the genetic
factors behind other complex diseases.
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