Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2025

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio
Published on: August 24, 2013
Whole Genome Linkage and Association Analyses Identify DLG Associated Protein-1 as a Novel Positional and Biological
Adam J Santanasto1, Sandeep Acharya2,3, Mary K Wojczynski4
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Background:
Grip strength is a robust indicator of overall health, is moderately heritable, and predicts longevity in older adults.
Methods:
Using genome-wide linkage analysis, we identified a novel locus on chromosome 18p (mega-basepair region: 3.4-4.0) linked to grip strength in 3 755 individuals from 582 families aged 64 ± 12 years (range 30-110 years; 55% women). There were 26 families that contributed to the linkage peak (cumulative logarithm of the odds [LOD] score = 10.94), with 6 families (119 individuals) accounting for most of the linkage signal (LOD = 6.4). In these 6 families, using whole genome sequencing data, we performed association analyses between the 7 312 single nucleotide (SNVs) and insertion deletion (INDELs) variants in the linkage region and grip strength. Models were adjusted for age, age2, sex, height, field center, and population substructure.
Results:
We found significant associations between genetic variants (8 SNVs and 4 INDELs, p < 5 × 10-5) in the Disks Large-associated Protein 1 (DLGAP1) gene and grip strength. Haplotypes constructed using these variants explained up to 98.1% of the LOD score. Finally, RNAseq data showed that these variants were significantly associated with the expression of nearby Myosin Light Chain 12A (MYL12A), Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes Flexible Hinge Domain Containing 1 (SMCHD1), Erythrocyte Membrane Protein Band 4.1 Like 3 (EPB41L3) genes (p < .0004).
Conclusions:
The DLGAP1 gene plays an important role in the postsynaptic density of neurons; thus, it is both a novel positional and biological candidate gene for follow-up studies aimed at uncovering genetic determinants of muscle strength.
More Related Videos
08:56In Situ Detection of Ribonucleoprotein Complex Assembly in the C. elegans Germline using Proximity Ligation Assay
Published on: May 5, 2020
06:52Behavioral and Locomotor Measurements Using an Open Field Activity Monitoring System for Skeletal Muscle Diseases
Published on: September 29, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Lethal Alleles
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...