Pathogenic NOTCH3 Variants Are Frequent Among the Korean General Population

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the frequency of pathogenic NOTCH3 variants among Koreans.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we queried for pathogenic NOTCH3 variants in 2 Korean public genome databases: the Korean Reference Genome Database (KRGDB) and the Korean Genome Project (Korea1K). In addition, we screened the 3 most common pathogenic NOTCH3 variants (p.Arg75Pro, p.Arg544Cys, and p.Arg578Cys) for 1,000 individuals on Jeju Island, where the largest number of patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) have been reported in Korea.ResultsThe pathogenic NOTCH3 variant (p.Arg544Cys) was found in 0.12% of sequences in the KRGDB, and 3 pathogenic variants (p.Arg75Pro, p.Arg182Cys, and p.Arg544Cys) were present in 0.44% of the Korea1K database. Of the 1,000 individuals on Jeju Island, we found 2 cysteine-altering NOTCH3 variants (p.Arg544Cys variant in 9 and p.Arg578Cys in 1 individual) in 1.00% of the participants (95% confidence interval: 0.48%–1.83%). The presence of cysteine-altering NOTCH3 variants was significantly associated with a history of stroke (p < 0.001).DiscussionPathogenic NOTCH3 variants are frequently found in the general Korean population. Such a high prevalence of pathogenic variants could threaten the brain health of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of older adults in Korea.

Two Approaches for a Genetic Analysis of Pompe Disease: A Literature Review of Patients with Pompe Disease and Analysis Based on Genomic Data from the General Population

In this study, two different approaches were applied in the analysis of the GAA gene. One was analyzed based on patients with Pompe disease, and the other was analyzed based on GAA genomic data from unaffected carriers in a general population genetic database. For this, GAA variants in Korean and Japanese patients reported in previous studies and in patients reported in the Pompe disease GAA variant database were analyzed as a model. In addition, GAA variants in the Korean Reference Genome Database (KRGDB), the Japanese Multi Omics Reference Panel (jMorp), and the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) were analyzed. Overall, approximately 50% of the pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PLPVs) found in unaffected carriers were also found in real patients with Pompe disease (Koreans, 57.1%; Japanese, 46.2%). In addition, there was a moderate positive correlation (Spearman’s correlation coefficient of 0.45–0.69) between the proportion of certain PLPVs in patients and the minor allele frequency of their variants in a general population database. Based on the analysis of general population databases, the total carrier frequency for Pompe disease in Koreans and Japanese was estimated to be 1.7% and 0.7%, respectively, and the predicted genetic prevalence was 1:13,657 and 1:78,013, respectively.

Transcriptomics Analysis for the Detection of Novel Drought Tolerance Genes in Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis)

Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) is a perennial stress tolerant desert shrub that has oil containing seeds and inhabits the Sonoran desert in the southwest of the United States and northwest Mexico. It has attracted a growing worldwide interest for multi-purpose uses. However, the most attractive characteristics of Jojoba are the richness of the oil content of the seed and the superior stress tolerance of the plant. Little has been done towards Jojoba genetic improvement. The exploration of jojoba genetic resources will define a molecular and biochemical fingerprint for jojoba and will aid sustainable crop commercialisation define. In this research, we aim to establish a reference genome database for Jojoba, which will help to facilitate crop improvement. Besides, the contribution to reveal the molecular background of its outstanding drought tolerance using transcriptional profiling during a water stress. RNA sequencing will be performed for samples collected under moderate and severe stress. The genetic database of jojoba will help to reveal the genetic mechanism of response and identify the genes responsible for the drought tolerant phenotype of this crop. Application of this knowledge will support the researchers, farmers, and the Jojoba industry.

KRGDB: the large-scale variant database of 1722 Koreans based on whole genome sequencing

Since 2012, the Center for Genome Science of the Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH) has been sequencing complete genomes of 1722 Korean individuals. As a result, more than 32 million variant sites have been identified, and a large proportion of the variant sites have been detected for the first time. In this article, we describe the Korean Reference Genome Database (KRGDB) and its genome browser. The current version of our database contains both single nucleotide and short insertion/deletion variants. The DNA samples were obtained from four different origins and sequenced in different sequencing depths (10× coverage of 63 individuals, 20× coverage of 194 individuals, combined 10× and 20× coverage of 135 individuals, 30× coverage of 230 individuals and 30× coverage of 1100 individuals). The major features of the KRGDB are that it contains information on the Korean genomic variant frequency, frequency difference between the Korean and other populations and the variant functional annotation (such as regulatory elements in ENCODE regions and coding variant functions) of the variant sites. Additionally, we performed the genome-wide association study (GWAS) between Korean genome variant sites for the 30×230 individuals and three major common diseases (diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome). The association results are displayed on our browser. The KRGDB uses the MySQL database and Apache-Tomcat web server adopted with Java Server Page (JSP) and is freely available at http://coda.nih.go.kr/coda/KRGDB/index.jsp. Availability: http://coda.nih.go.kr/coda/KRGDB/index.jsp

Improving the usability and comprehensiveness of microbial databases

Metagenomics studies leverage genomic reference databases to generate discoveries in basic science and translational research. However, current microbial studies use disparate reference databases that lack consistent standards of specimen inclusion, data preparation, taxon labelling and accessibility, hindering their quality and comprehensiveness, and calling for the establishment of recommendations for reference genome database assembly. Here, we analyze existing fungal and bacterial databases and discuss guidelines for the development of a master reference database that promises to improve the quality and quantity of omics research.