10.1371/journal.pone.0160654
Renato Polimanti
Renato
Polimanti
Bao Zhu Yang
Bao Zhu
Yang
Hongyu Zhao
Hongyu
Zhao
Joel Gelernter
Joel
Gelernter
Evidence of Polygenic Adaptation in the Systems Genetics of Anthropometric Traits
Public Library of Science
2016
WC
European populations
polygenic mechanisms
protein interaction networks
anthropometric traits
body mass index
signal
GWAS
BMI
polygenic adaptation
WHR
adult locomotory behavior
2016-08-18 17:40:23
Dataset
https://plos.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Evidence_of_Polygenic_Adaptation_in_the_Systems_Genetics_of_Anthropometric_Traits/3710811
<div><p>Many signals of natural selection have been identified in the human genome. However, except for some single-locus mechanisms, most molecular processes generating these adaptation signals are still unknown. We developed an approach that integrates datasets related to genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with information about systems biology and genetic signatures of natural selection to identify evidence of polygenic adaptation. Specifically, we focused on five anthropometric measurements: body mass index (BMI), height, waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI (WHR), and waist circumference adjusted for BMI (WC), and sex differences for WHR and WC. We performed an enrichment analysis for signals of natural selection in protein interaction networks associated with anthropometric traits in European populations. The adaptation signals-enriched gene networks associated highlighted epistatic interactions in the context of polygenic selection for the investigated traits. These polygenic mechanisms indicated intriguing selective mechanisms related to the anthropometric traits: adult locomotory behavior for BMI, infection resistance for height, interplay between lipid transport and immune systems for WHR, and female-specific polygenic adaptation for WHR and WC. In conclusion, we observed evidence of polygenic adaptation in the context of systems genetics of anthropometric traits that indicates polygenic mechanisms related to the natural selection in European populations.</p></div>