Our Human Brainome project seeks to define the genome-transriptome-proteome- phenome interactions in the cortexes of normally aged human brains and brains affected by neurodegenerative disease. We hypothesize that the current accepted approach for discovering novel genetic risk loci by looking at a single layer of information (genotypes) is lacking power and taking a more systems-wide approach might increase the success of finding novel targets. We intend upon comparing our genotype information (~ 1.8 million single nucleotide polymorphisms) and our expression information (~ 46,000 transcripts) with a novel proteomics dataset generated by running Liquid Chromatography coupled online with high mass accuracy Mass Spectrometry (LC- MS, providing quantification of ~2000-3000 proteins). We will look at both single correlative cis and trans relationships (i.e. DNA change affects downstream regulation of one transcript or protein), as well as perform analyses to understand the networks of relationships occurring both at the transcriptome and proteome level. We are well situated to perform this work. First, we have an extensive collection of frozen human brain samples (n~1500, ~60% late onset Alzheimer's disease samples) for which there is genotype and expression data available. Large sample sizes are needed to obtain sufficient power to accurately assess the human genome as well as overcome some of the noise and other issues inherent to transcriptomics and proteomics sample analysis. These existing genotype and gene expression datasets are essential to success in this grant. Second, to accomplish the proteome analyses we will utilize the accurate mass and time (AMT) tag approach developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories to avoid the sensitivity constraints of conventional approaches and improve the throughput of measurements providing broad proteome coverage. While having the same coverage of the proteome, the AMT tag approach typically reduces by 1-2 orders (e.g. 1 hour vs normally 24 hours) of magnitude the instrument time per sample analysis. Thus, the AMT tag approach is the only reasonable option to provide the sensitivity and measurement throughput essential to this project. Finally, we expect to achieve an additional 10-fold increase in sensitivity using our novel de-noising algorithm that will allow for a more accurate assessment of the complete proteome of the human brain cortex. By developing a more global view of the processes involved in human brain expression we will be able to relate new genetic findings to their downstream neuro-pathobiological relevance. This should aid in the development of novel genetic and molecular biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease. Identifying biomarkers that could further classify pre-clinical subgroups and identify sub-classes of rapid converters would help to significantly reduce the cost of drug trials. These biomarkers will have the added benefit that they are not only molecular, but in addition have mapped genotype profiles, which should be easier to assay than a molecular marker. In this project we seek to define the effects of DNA variation on human cortical expression with an emphasis on the DNA variation that is impinging on proteome expression changes relevant to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. If we achieve our aims we will know specifically which variant or group of variants are changing protein expression levels. This information will help us to define the downstream significance of DNA risk variation in Alzheimer's disease, which might aid in the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapies for this devastating illness.

Public Health Relevance

In this project we seek to define the effects of DNA variation on human cortical expression with an emphasis on the DNA variation that is impinging on proteome expression changes relevant to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. If we achieve our aims we will know specifically which variant or group of variants are changing protein expression levels. This information will help us to define the downstream significance of DNA risk variation in Alzheimer's disease, which might aid in the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapies for this devastating illness.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG034504-03
Application #
8122171
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAG1-ZIJ-7 (M1))
Program Officer
Miller, Marilyn
Project Start
2009-09-15
Project End
2013-08-31
Budget Start
2011-09-01
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$275,584
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Miami School of Medicine
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
052780918
City
Coral Gables
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33146
Escott-Price, Valentina; Myers, Amanda J; Huentelman, Matt et al. (2017) Polygenic risk score analysis of pathologically confirmed Alzheimer disease. Ann Neurol 82:311-314
Jun, Gyungah R; Chung, Jaeyoon; Mez, Jesse et al. (2017) Transethnic genome-wide scan identifies novel Alzheimer's disease loci. Alzheimers Dement 13:727-738
Jun, G; Ibrahim-Verbaas, C A; Vronskaya, M et al. (2016) A novel Alzheimer disease locus located near the gene encoding tau protein. Mol Psychiatry 21:108-17
Beecham, Gary W; Dickson, Dennis W; Scott, William K et al. (2015) PARK10 is a major locus for sporadic neuropathologically confirmed Parkinson disease. Neurology 84:972-80
Escott-Price, Valentina; Bellenguez, CĂ©line; Wang, Li-San et al. (2014) Gene-wide analysis detects two new susceptibility genes for Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One 9:e94661
Naj, Adam C; Jun, Gyungah; Reitz, Christiane et al. (2014) Effects of multiple genetic loci on age at onset in late-onset Alzheimer disease: a genome-wide association study. JAMA Neurol 71:1394-404
Beecham, Gary W; Hamilton, Kara; Naj, Adam C et al. (2014) Genome-wide association meta-analysis of neuropathologic features of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. PLoS Genet 10:e1004606
Lim, Andrew S P; Srivastava, Gyan P; Yu, Lei et al. (2014) 24-hour rhythms of DNA methylation and their relation with rhythms of RNA expression in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. PLoS Genet 10:e1004792
Miyashita, Akinori; Koike, Asako; Jun, Gyungah et al. (2013) SORL1 is genetically associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease in Japanese, Koreans and Caucasians. PLoS One 8:e58618
Myers, Amanda J (2013) AD gene 3-D: moving past single layer genetic information to map novel loci involved in Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis 33 Suppl 1:S15-22

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