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A Genome-Wide Association Study for Regulators of Micronucleus Formation in Mice.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

McIntyre, Rebecca E 
Nicod, Jérôme 
Robles-Espinoza, Carla Daniela 
Maciejowski, John 
Cai, Na 

Abstract

In mammals the regulation of genomic instability plays a key role in tumor suppression and also controls genome plasticity, which is important for recombination during the processes of immunity and meiosis. Most studies to identify regulators of genomic instability have been performed in cells in culture or in systems that report on gross rearrangements of the genome, yet subtle differences in the level of genomic instability can contribute to whole organism phenotypes such as tumor predisposition. Here we performed a genome-wide association study in a population of 1379 outbred Crl:CFW(SW)-US_P08 mice to dissect the genetic landscape of micronucleus formation, a biomarker of chromosomal breaks, whole chromosome loss, and extranuclear DNA. Variation in micronucleus levels is a complex trait with a genome-wide heritability of 53.1%. We identify seven loci influencing micronucleus formation (false discovery rate <5%), and define candidate genes at each locus. Intriguingly at several loci we find evidence for sexual dimorphism in micronucleus formation, with a locus on chromosome 11 being specific to males.

Description

Keywords

Micronuclei, Outbred mice, genetic mapping, genome-wide association study (GWAS), genomic instability, Animals, Chromosome Breakage, Chromosome Mapping, Female, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genomic Instability, Genotype, Male, Mice, Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective, Phenotype, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Quantitative Trait Loci, Sex Characteristics

Journal Title

G3 (Bethesda)

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2160-1836
2160-1836

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)
Sponsorship
This work was supported by Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust.