Structural Asymmetry in the Frontal and Temporal Lobes Is Associated with PCSK6 VNTR Polymorphism

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Gesa Berretz - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Larissa Arning - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Wanda M. Gerding - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Patrick Friedrich - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Christoph Fraenz - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Caroline Schlüter - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Jörg T. Epplen - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Witten/Herdecke (Autor:in)
  • Onur Güntürkün - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Christian Beste - , Fakultät Psychologie, Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie (Autor:in)
  • Erhan Genç - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)
  • Sebastian Ocklenburg - , Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Autor:in)

Abstract

The nodal cascade influences the development of bodily asymmetries in humans and other vertebrates. The gene PCSK6 has shown a regulatory function during left-right axis formation and is therefore thought to influence bodily left-right asymmetries. However, it is not clear if variation in this gene is also associated with structural asymmetries in the brain. We genotyped an intronic 33bp PCSK6 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism that has been associated with handedness in a cohort of healthy adults. We acquired T1-weighted structural MRI images of 320 participants and defined cortical surface and thickness for each HCP region. The results demonstrate a significant association between PCSK6 VNTR genotypes and gray matter asymmetry in the superior temporal sulcus, which is involved in voice perception. Heterozygous individuals who carry a short (≤ 6 repeats) and a long (≥ 9 repeats) PCSK6 VNTR allele show stronger rightward asymmetry. Further associations were evident in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Here, individuals homozygous for short alleles show a more pronounced asymmetry. This shows that PCSK6, a gene that has been implicated in the ontogenesis of bodily asymmetries by regulating the nodal cascade, is also relevant for structural asymmetries in the human brain.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)7765-7773
Seitenumfang9
FachzeitschriftMolecular neurobiology
Jahrgang56
Ausgabenummer11
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 1 Nov. 2019
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 31115778
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952645

Schlagworte

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Schlagwörter

  • Language, Laterality, PCSK6, Superior temporal sulcus, VNTR