Genetic project shows obesity genes

Monday October 19th, 2015

British researchers have pin-pointed new genes involved in schizophrenia and obesity in a major research project.

The London-based researchers conducted a joint study involving more than 2,000 volunteers with either schizophrenia or obesity.

The analysis, published in the Annals of Human Genetics, involved more than a million genetic variants.

It show rare variants in two genes, CRHR1 and SNORD115, linked to obesity. SNORD115 is already known to be a gene missing in Prader-Willi syndrome, a condition which includes extreme food cravings.

The study also confirmed that people with obesity tend not to have two variants in the MC4R gene, known to protect against the problem.

When it came to those with schizophrenia, the study found frequent variants in the NLGN2 gene, responsible for the correct functioning of the synapses.

Researcher Professor David Curtis, of University College, London, said: "Schizophrenia and obesity represent huge public health problems. Both conditions have a substantial genetic contribution which is at present poorly understood. This study illustrates the way that genetic sequencing technology can help us to make progress in this area."

Dr Richard Durbin, of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, which helped provide volunteers, said: "The UK10K collaborative research project has involved researchers across Britain who sequenced all the genes in nearly ten thousand British people with a variety of medical conditions.

"We are delighted that it has enabled a wide range of genetics studies, including these important findings on the genetics of schizophrenia and obesity."

David Curtis and The UK10K Consortium. Practical experience of the application of a weighted burden test to whole exome sequence data for obesity and schizophrenia Annals of Human Genetics 16 October 2015

Tags: Diet & Food | Genetics | Mental Health | UK News

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