Over 500 genetic loci have been associated with risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); however, most loci are located in gene-distal non-coding regions and their target genes are not known. Here, we generated high-resolution promoter capture Hi-C (PCHi-C) maps in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) to provide a resource for identifying and prioritizing the functional targets of CVD associations. We validate these maps by demonstrating that promoters preferentially contact distal sequences enriched for tissue-specific transcription factor motifs and are enriched for chromatin marks that correlate with dynamic changes in gene expression. Using the CM PCHi-C map, we linked 1999 CVD-associated SNPs to 347 target genes. Remarkably, more than 90% of SNP-target gene interactions did not involve the nearest gene, while 40% of SNPs interacted with at least two genes, demonstrating the importance of considering long-range chromatin interactions when interpreting functional targets of disease loci.
24Over 500 genetic loci have been associated with risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), 25 however most loci are located in gene-distal non-coding regions and their target genes are not known. 26Here, we generated high-resolution promoter capture Hi-C (PCHi-C) maps in human induced 27 pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) to provide a resource for 28 identifying and prioritizing the functional targets of CVD associations. We validate these maps by 29 demonstrating that promoters preferentially contact distal sequences enriched for tissue-specific 30 transcription factor motifs and are enriched for chromatin marks that correlate with dynamic changes in 31 was not peer-reviewed) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.
Whereas coding variants often have pleiotropic effects across multiple tissues, noncoding variants are thought to mediate their phenotypic effects by specific tissue and temporal regulation of gene expression. Here, we investigated the genetic and functional architecture of a genomic region within the FTO gene that is strongly associated with obesity risk. We show that multiple variants on a common haplotype modify the regulatory properties of several enhancers targeting IRX3 and IRX5 from megabase distances. We demonstrate that these enhancers affect gene expression in multiple tissues, including adipose and brain, and impart regulatory effects during a restricted temporal window. Our data indicate that the genetic architecture of disease-associated loci may involve extensive pleiotropy, allelic heterogeneity, shared allelic effects across tissues, and temporally restricted effects.
Summary
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced during normal metabolism and can function as signaling molecules. ROS at elevated levels, however, can damage cells. Here we identify the conserved TORC2/Ypk1 signaling module as an important regulator of ROS in the model eukaryotic organism, S. cerevisiae. We show that TORC2/Ypk1 suppresses ROS produced both by mitochondria as well as by non-mitochondrial sources, including changes in acidification of the vacuole. Furthermore, we link vacuole-related ROS to sphingolipids, essential components of cellular membranes, whose synthesis is also controlled by TORC2/Ypk1 signaling. In total, our data reveal that TORC2/Ypk1 act within a homeostatic feedback loop to maintain sphingolipid levels and that ROS are a critical regulatory signal within this system. Thus ROS sensing and signaling by TORC2/Ypk1 play a central physiological role in sphingolipid biosynthesis and in the maintenance of cell growth and viability.
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