Genetic variation and gene expression across multiple tissues and developmental stages in a non-human primate

Abstract

By analyzing multi-tissue gene expression and genome-wide genetic variation data in samples from a vervet monkey pedigree, we generated a transcriptome resource and produced the first catalogue of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in a non-human primate model. This catalogue contains more genome-wide significant eQTLs, per sample, than comparable human resources, and reveals sex and age-related expression patterns. Findings include a master regulatory locus that likely plays a role in immune function, and a locus regulating hippocampal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), whose expression correlates with hippocampal volume. This resource will facilitate genetic investigation of quantitative traits, including brain and behavioral phenotypes relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.

Ancient hybridization and strong adaptation to viruses across African vervet monkey populations

“…There is a long history of research on vervet monkeys, ranging from studies of their social behavior 1 , 2 to their use as an important model for a variety of human diseases 3 and in vaccine research 4 – 6 . Vervet research colonies have been established, one of which is currently being genetically characterized 7 , 8 . Vervets are particularly interesting for HIV/AIDS research as they are the most abundant natural hosts of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a close relative of HIV.…”

Evolutionary insights from wild vervet genomes

“…In 2015, sequence data for 721 individuals from the Vervet Research Colony in the United States were reported8, and on page X of this issue, Jasinska et al . present a multi-tissue eQTL study in a subset of these sequenced vervets9. Although eQTL studies are now commonplace in humans, they have only recently begun to be applied to NHPs.…”