Genome-wide association study identifies novel genetic variants contributing to variation in blood metabolite levels

Harmen H M Draisma*, René Pool, Michael Kobl, Rick Jansen, Ann-Kristin Petersen, Anika A M Vaarhorst, Idil Yet, Toomas Haller, Ayse Demirkan, Tõnu Esko, Gu Zhu, Stefan Böhringer, Marian Beekman, Jan Bert van Klinken, Werner Römisch-Margl, Cornelia Prehn, Jerzy Adamski, Anton J M de Craen, Elisabeth M van Leeuwen, Najaf AminHarish Dharuri, Harm-Jan Westra, Lude Franke, Eco J C de Geus, Jouke Jan Hottenga, Gonneke Willemsen, Anjali K Henders, Grant W Montgomery, Dale R Nyholt, John B Whitfield, Brenda W Penninx, Tim D Spector, Andres Metspalu, P Eline Slagboom, Ko Willems van Dijk, Peter A C 't Hoen, Konstantin Strauch, Nicholas G Martin, Gert-Jan B van Ommen, Thomas Illig, Jordana T Bell, Massimo Mangino, Karsten Suhre, Mark I McCarthy, Christian Gieger, Aaron Isaacs, Cornelia M van Duijn, Dorret I Boomsma

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Metabolites are small molecules involved in cellular metabolism, which can be detected in biological samples using metabolomic techniques. Here we present the results of genome-wide association and meta-analyses for variation in the blood serum levels of 129 metabolites as measured by the Biocrates metabolomic platform. In a discovery sample of 7,478 individuals of European descent, we find 4,068 genome- and metabolome-wide significant (Z-test, P < 1.09 × 10(-9)) associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and metabolites, involving 59 independent SNPs and 85 metabolites. Five of the fifty-nine independent SNPs are new for serum metabolite levels, and were followed-up for replication in an independent sample (N = 1,182). The novel SNPs are located in or near genes encoding metabolite transporter proteins or enzymes (SLC22A16, ARG1, AGPS and ACSL1) that have demonstrated biomedical or pharmaceutical importance. The further characterization of genetic influences on metabolic phenotypes is important for progress in biological and medical research.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7208
JournalNature Communications
Volume6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Jun 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood/metabolism
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

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