Exome sequencing identifies novel genes associated with cerebellar volume and microstructure

Abstract Proteins encoded by exons are critical for cellular functions, and mutations in these genes often result in significant phenotypic effects. The cerebellum is linked to various heritable human disease phenotypes, yet genome-wide association studies have struggled to capture the effects of ra...

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Main Authors: Yuanyuan Liang, Dongrui Ma, Mengjie Li, Zhiyun Wang, Chenwei Hao, Yuemeng Sun, Xiaoyan Hao, Chunyan Zuo, Shuangjie Li, Yanmei Feng, Shasha Qi, Yunpeng Wang, Shilei Sun, Yu-Ming Xu, Ole A. Andreassen, Changhe Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07797-3
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author Yuanyuan Liang
Dongrui Ma
Mengjie Li
Zhiyun Wang
Chenwei Hao
Yuemeng Sun
Xiaoyan Hao
Chunyan Zuo
Shuangjie Li
Yanmei Feng
Shasha Qi
Yunpeng Wang
Shilei Sun
Yu-Ming Xu
Ole A. Andreassen
Changhe Shi
author_facet Yuanyuan Liang
Dongrui Ma
Mengjie Li
Zhiyun Wang
Chenwei Hao
Yuemeng Sun
Xiaoyan Hao
Chunyan Zuo
Shuangjie Li
Yanmei Feng
Shasha Qi
Yunpeng Wang
Shilei Sun
Yu-Ming Xu
Ole A. Andreassen
Changhe Shi
author_sort Yuanyuan Liang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Proteins encoded by exons are critical for cellular functions, and mutations in these genes often result in significant phenotypic effects. The cerebellum is linked to various heritable human disease phenotypes, yet genome-wide association studies have struggled to capture the effects of rare variants on cerebellar traits. This study conducts a large-scale exome association analysis using data from approximately 35,000 UK Biobank participants, examining seven cerebellar traits, including total cerebellar volume and white matter microstructure. We identify 90 genes associated with cerebellar traits, 60 of which were previously unreported in genome-wide association studies. Notable findings include the discovery of genes like PRKRA and TTK, as well as RASGRP3, linked to cerebellar volume and white matter microstructure. Gene enrichment analysis reveals associations with non-coding RNA processing, cognitive function, neurodegenerative diseases, and mental disorders, suggesting shared biological mechanisms between cerebellar phenotypes and neuropsychiatric diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-b2d5d3ce89ea4e76b045c4fa3bae93872025-08-20T03:03:40ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-03-018111110.1038/s42003-025-07797-3Exome sequencing identifies novel genes associated with cerebellar volume and microstructureYuanyuan Liang0Dongrui Ma1Mengjie Li2Zhiyun Wang3Chenwei Hao4Yuemeng Sun5Xiaoyan Hao6Chunyan Zuo7Shuangjie Li8Yanmei Feng9Shasha Qi10Yunpeng Wang11Shilei Sun12Yu-Ming Xu13Ole A. Andreassen14Changhe Shi15Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityNORMENT, K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityNORMENT, K.G. Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou UniversityAbstract Proteins encoded by exons are critical for cellular functions, and mutations in these genes often result in significant phenotypic effects. The cerebellum is linked to various heritable human disease phenotypes, yet genome-wide association studies have struggled to capture the effects of rare variants on cerebellar traits. This study conducts a large-scale exome association analysis using data from approximately 35,000 UK Biobank participants, examining seven cerebellar traits, including total cerebellar volume and white matter microstructure. We identify 90 genes associated with cerebellar traits, 60 of which were previously unreported in genome-wide association studies. Notable findings include the discovery of genes like PRKRA and TTK, as well as RASGRP3, linked to cerebellar volume and white matter microstructure. Gene enrichment analysis reveals associations with non-coding RNA processing, cognitive function, neurodegenerative diseases, and mental disorders, suggesting shared biological mechanisms between cerebellar phenotypes and neuropsychiatric diseases.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07797-3
spellingShingle Yuanyuan Liang
Dongrui Ma
Mengjie Li
Zhiyun Wang
Chenwei Hao
Yuemeng Sun
Xiaoyan Hao
Chunyan Zuo
Shuangjie Li
Yanmei Feng
Shasha Qi
Yunpeng Wang
Shilei Sun
Yu-Ming Xu
Ole A. Andreassen
Changhe Shi
Exome sequencing identifies novel genes associated with cerebellar volume and microstructure
Communications Biology
title Exome sequencing identifies novel genes associated with cerebellar volume and microstructure
title_full Exome sequencing identifies novel genes associated with cerebellar volume and microstructure
title_fullStr Exome sequencing identifies novel genes associated with cerebellar volume and microstructure
title_full_unstemmed Exome sequencing identifies novel genes associated with cerebellar volume and microstructure
title_short Exome sequencing identifies novel genes associated with cerebellar volume and microstructure
title_sort exome sequencing identifies novel genes associated with cerebellar volume and microstructure
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07797-3
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