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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
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Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies
Published on: May 6, 2022
Association analysis of positional obesity candidate genes based on integrated data from transcriptomics and linkage
1Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|January 9, 2008
Summary
Researchers identified new obesity susceptibility genes by combining genetic and gene expression data. The PFKFB3 gene showed association with obesity and lower mRNA levels in obese women, suggesting its role in the disorder.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Obesity is a complex disorder influenced by behavior and genetics.
- Identifying genetic predispositions is crucial for understanding obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel genes associated with obesity susceptibility.
- To investigate the role of gene expression in obesity.
Main Methods:
- Combined linkage and gene expression profile data from multiple cohorts.
- Quantified adipose tissue mRNA levels in 96 women.
- Genotyped two large cohorts (n=1013 and 1423) for obesity-associated polymorphisms.
Main Results:
- Confirmed association between adipose tissue mRNA levels and obesity.
- Identified single nucleotide polymorphism rs1064891 in the PFKFB3 gene associated with obesity (P=0.007).
- PFKFB3 showed association with BMI in men across lean to severe obesity categories (P≤0.005).
Conclusions:
- Combining linkage and expression data is effective for discovering obesity genes.
- PFKFB3, a glycolysis regulator, has decreased mRNA in obese women and is a promising obesity candidate gene.
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