Dataset Information

Genetic Analysis of Normal Human Facial Variation

ABSTRACT:

The purpose of this project is to identify genes associated with normal human quantitative facial variation. The motivation for this project stems from the fact that very little is known about how variation in specific genes relates to the diversity of facial forms commonly observed in humans. Viable candidates for these morphogenes originate from a number of sources: tissue expression studies, animal models with targeted or spontaneous mutations, and genetic syndromes with craniofacial manifestations. Importantly, understanding the genetic basis for normal facial variation also has important implications for health-related research. For example, this work has the potential to shed light on the factors influencing liability to common craniofacial anomalies such as orofacial clefts. There is now ample evidence that certain facial features (e.g., increased midfacial retrusion) characterize individuals genetically at-risk for orofacial clefts (e.g., biological relatives of affected cases). While these predisposing facial features are statistically over-represented in at-risk groups, they are also common in the general population. Since many of the current candidate genes for clefting are thought to play a critical role in facial morphogenesis, variation in these genes may also underlie normal variation in these facial features. These candidate genes, however, probably represent only a small fraction of the total number of loci influencing normal human facial variation.

Phenotypes for this project were obtained from over 3000 healthy Caucasian subjects recruited through three separate studies. The majority of the subjects were recruited as part of the 3D Facial Norms Project, which is described in extensive detail here: (https://www.facebase.org/facial_norms/notes). The provided dbGaP phenotypes include a series of anthropometric craniofacial measurements (linear distances) primarily derived from 3D photographic facial surface scans (see previous hyperlink). The specific genotyping requested is described elsewhere in this document. Our analysis team is pursuing a variety of different analytic approaches to derive genetically informative phenotypes, including various shape-based morphometric methods. For those interested in pursuing more advanced phenotypic approaches, the original 3D surface scans and additional phenotypic traits are available to researchers through the FaceBase Consortium.

This dataset has the potential to facilitate the discovery of new genetic loci with an important role in both normal and abnormal facial development. It may also serve as a dataset to test hypotheses regarding specific SNP associations (e.g. as a replication dataset) or as part of a larger meta-analysis.

PROVIDER: phs000949 | dbGaP |

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA288844PRJNA288845

REPOSITORIES: dbGaP

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Dataset's files

Source:

			Action	DRS
	GapExchange_phs000949.v1.p1.xml	Xml
	dbGaPEx2.1.5.xsd	Other
	Study_Report.phs000949.CIDR_FacialVariation.v1.p1.MULTI.pdf	Pdf
	manifest_phs000949.CIDR_FacialVariation.v1.p1.c1.DS-CFR.pdf	Pdf
	datadict_v2.xsl	Other

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Project description:The cranial neural crest plays a fundamental role in orofacial development and morphogenesis. As a pluripotent and dynamic cell population, the cranial neural crest is undergoing vast transcriptional alterations throughout embryogenesis and the formation of facial structures. These transcriptional changes are regulated by several transcription factors and remodeling complexes. Previously, we revealed the relevance of the Ep400/Kat5 histone acetyltransferase complex in the cranial neural crest and showed that the knockout of Ep400 causes neural crest-related malformations such as orofacial clefting. Furthermore, a case study identified three patients carrying missense mutations in Kat5 who showed severe mental impairments as well as orofacial clefts.2 The exact molecular causes and mechanisms, however, are still unknown. In this study we selectively knocked out Ep400 or Kat5 in the murine cranial neural crest cell line O9-1 to examine its roles in neural crest biology. To understand the regulatory effects of Ep400 and Kat5, knockout neural crest cells were investigated via bulk RNA sequencing to unravel transcriptomic changes in the affected cells. Bioinformatic analyses hinted at the regulation of major cellular functions such as proliferation, ATP generation and protein synthesis by the Ep400/Kat5 complex. Reduced proliferation was confirmed by crystal violet staining, phospho-histone H3 staining and the determination of mitotic cells with condensed chromatin in vitro. We did not detect increased apoptosis in the knockout cell lines. The energetic profile of the cells was investigated by Seahorse technology. The ATP-rate assay showed a decreased glycolytic activity in Ep400- or Kat5-deficient cells. An O-propargyl-puromycin (OPP) Click-iT assay revealed a significant reduction in protein synthesis. To verify in vivo the discovered in vitro effects, Ep400 and Kat5 were selectively ablated in cranial neural crest using Wnt1-Cre in transgenic mice. The knockout of each of the subunits resulted in severe craniofacial malformations from E12.5 onwards. At E10.5 a significant reduction in neural crest-derived tissue and proliferation rate was evident. The strong defect in orofacial structures of mice lacking Kat5 or Ep400 completely correspond to the milder orofacial malformations in patients carrying heterozygous missense mutations. Our results furthermore argue that changes of metabolism, protein synthesis and proliferation in cranial neural crest cells are responsible for the orofacial defects observed in patients.

Dataset Information

Genetic Analysis of Normal Human Facial Variation

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