Investigating Intra-Species Genetic Variation in the Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene of Marmoset Monkeys
Advisor Information
Jeffrey French
Location
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
6-3-2015 11:00 AM
End Date
6-3-2015 12:30 PM
Abstract
Glucocorticoid (GC) receptors have an intimate relationship with the class of steroid hormones that includes cortisol, the wellknown “stress-hormone.” In humans, minor intra-specific variation in the gene that codes for GC receptors has been shown to have significant effects on a person’s ability to cope with psychosocial stress, a person’s disposition toward certain types of diabetes and abdominal obesity, and a person’s risk for developing major depression. Due to their relatively similar social systems and genetics, marmosets are a promising animal for modeling these gene-behavior and gene-disease interactions. Very little has been done to characterize intra-specific variation of the marmoset GC receptor gene. This project aimed to investigate this gap and to compare the marmoset GC receptor gene to other primates. Due to the functional significance of the first and second exons of this gene in humans, primers were designed based on public reference sequence data to sequence the whole marmoset GC receptor exome. Tissues were extracted and DNA was isolated from ten deceased marmosets from different lineages. These DNA samples were purified, amplified, and were validated by gel electrophoresis prior to sequencing. Following sequencing, samples were aligned and analyzed for quality. Phylogenetic trees were then made to assess similarities between the sequences of these marmosets and other primates. Work is continuing to assess possible functional differences in intra-specific variation between additional marmosets, and this work may eventually be combined with behavioral studies.
Investigating Intra-Species Genetic Variation in the Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene of Marmoset Monkeys
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Glucocorticoid (GC) receptors have an intimate relationship with the class of steroid hormones that includes cortisol, the wellknown “stress-hormone.” In humans, minor intra-specific variation in the gene that codes for GC receptors has been shown to have significant effects on a person’s ability to cope with psychosocial stress, a person’s disposition toward certain types of diabetes and abdominal obesity, and a person’s risk for developing major depression. Due to their relatively similar social systems and genetics, marmosets are a promising animal for modeling these gene-behavior and gene-disease interactions. Very little has been done to characterize intra-specific variation of the marmoset GC receptor gene. This project aimed to investigate this gap and to compare the marmoset GC receptor gene to other primates. Due to the functional significance of the first and second exons of this gene in humans, primers were designed based on public reference sequence data to sequence the whole marmoset GC receptor exome. Tissues were extracted and DNA was isolated from ten deceased marmosets from different lineages. These DNA samples were purified, amplified, and were validated by gel electrophoresis prior to sequencing. Following sequencing, samples were aligned and analyzed for quality. Phylogenetic trees were then made to assess similarities between the sequences of these marmosets and other primates. Work is continuing to assess possible functional differences in intra-specific variation between additional marmosets, and this work may eventually be combined with behavioral studies.