Analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression

Background: The DEFA1A3 locus on chromosome 8p23.1 has been known to exhibit copy number variation (between 3 and 16 copies) and to include either the DEFA1 gene or the DEFA3 gene in any repeat. These two genes encode the Human Neutrophil Peptides HNPs 1-3, antimicrobial peptides implicated in the i...

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Main Author: Necsoiu, Paula Eugenia
Format: Thesis (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50661/
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author Necsoiu, Paula Eugenia
author_facet Necsoiu, Paula Eugenia
author_sort Necsoiu, Paula Eugenia
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: The DEFA1A3 locus on chromosome 8p23.1 has been known to exhibit copy number variation (between 3 and 16 copies) and to include either the DEFA1 gene or the DEFA3 gene in any repeat. These two genes encode the Human Neutrophil Peptides HNPs 1-3, antimicrobial peptides implicated in the innate immune response. Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether there is any significant relationship between alpha defensin copy number and expression levels. The secondary aim was to understand more about 6836028G, a synonymous variant in exon 2 of the DEFA1A3 locus which affects a valine codon. Results and Conclusions: Levels of DEFA3 expression in mRNA are not simply proportional to genomic copy number; in cDNA DEFA3 appears to be expressed about 6-7 times more per copy than DEFA1. A similar relationship is also reflected in the variant 6836028G, which is underrepresented by a factor of about 1.4-fold in cDNA relative to genomic DNA; we assume that this variant might accompany only the DEFA1 gene, due to low levels of 6836028G in cDNA.
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format Thesis (University of Nottingham only)
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institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
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spelling nottingham-506612025-02-28T14:03:31Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50661/ Analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression Necsoiu, Paula Eugenia Background: The DEFA1A3 locus on chromosome 8p23.1 has been known to exhibit copy number variation (between 3 and 16 copies) and to include either the DEFA1 gene or the DEFA3 gene in any repeat. These two genes encode the Human Neutrophil Peptides HNPs 1-3, antimicrobial peptides implicated in the innate immune response. Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether there is any significant relationship between alpha defensin copy number and expression levels. The secondary aim was to understand more about 6836028G, a synonymous variant in exon 2 of the DEFA1A3 locus which affects a valine codon. Results and Conclusions: Levels of DEFA3 expression in mRNA are not simply proportional to genomic copy number; in cDNA DEFA3 appears to be expressed about 6-7 times more per copy than DEFA1. A similar relationship is also reflected in the variant 6836028G, which is underrepresented by a factor of about 1.4-fold in cDNA relative to genomic DNA; we assume that this variant might accompany only the DEFA1 gene, due to low levels of 6836028G in cDNA. 2018-07-12 Thesis (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en arr https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50661/1/PAULA%20NECSOIU%20THESIS%20revised.pdf Necsoiu, Paula Eugenia (2018) Analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression. MRes thesis, University of Nottingham. genetics blood neutrophils defensins white blood cells
spellingShingle genetics
blood
neutrophils
defensins
white blood cells
Necsoiu, Paula Eugenia
Analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression
title Analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression
title_full Analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression
title_fullStr Analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression
title_short Analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression
title_sort analysis of genetic factors influencing alpha-defensin gene expression
topic genetics
blood
neutrophils
defensins
white blood cells
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50661/