Human brain harbors single nucleotide somatic variations in functionally relevant genes possibly mediated by
Anchal Sharma1, Asgar Hussain Ansari1, Renu Kumari1
1Genomics & Molceular Medicine Unit, CSIR-Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology, Delhi, 110020, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology (AcSIR-IGIB), Delhi, 110020, India.
The normal human brain contains somatic DNA variations, with a high rate of G:C>T:A transversions linked to oxidative stress markers in the frontal cortex. These variations may affect axon guidance pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Somatic DNA variations occur in both healthy and diseased states, influencing cellular function.
- The human brain's normal genomic landscape regarding somatic variations is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of somatic single base variations in the normal human brain.
- To explore the potential role of oxidative stress in driving these somatic variations.
Main Methods:
- Exome sequencing of paired tissue samples from the human brain.
- Quantification of 8-OHdG as an oxidative stress marker.
- Analysis of somatic variation patterns and their correlation with oxidative stress.
Main Results:
- Normal human brain exhibits somatic single base variations, up to 0.48% of total variations.
- Approximately 64% of brain somatic variations lead to non-synonymous changes, with 87% being G:C>T:A transversions.
- Higher G:C>T:A transversions and 8-OHdG levels were observed in the frontal cortex compared to the corpus callosum, suggesting a link to oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- Oxidative stress may significantly influence single nucleotide somatic variations in the normal human brain.
- Somatic variations are enriched in axon guidance and related pathways, potentially indicating selection or increased susceptibility to oxidative damage.
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