Evolving evidence on a link between the ZMYM3 exceptionally long GA-STR and human cognition

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 10;10(1):19454. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76461-z.

Abstract

The human X-linked zinc finger MYM-type protein 3 (ZMYM3) contains the longest GA-STR identified across protein-coding gene 5' UTR sequences, at 32-repeats. This exceptionally long GA-STR is located at a complex string of GA-STRs with a human-specific formula across the complex as follows: (GA)8-(GA)4-(GA)6-(GA)32 (ZMYM3-207 ENST00000373998.5). ZMYM3 was previously reported among the top three genes involved in the progression of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Here we sequenced the ZMYM3 GA-STR complex in 750 human male subjects, consisting of late-onset neurocognitive disorder (NCD) as a clinical entity (n = 268) and matched controls (n = 482). We detected strict monomorphism of the GA-STR complex, except of the exceptionally long STR, which was architecturally skewed in respect of allele distribution between the NCD cases and controls [F (1, 50) = 12.283; p = 0.001]. Moreover, extreme alleles of this STR at 17, 20, 42, and 43 repeats were detected in seven NCD patients and not in the control group (Mid-P exact = 0.0003). A number of these alleles overlapped with alleles previously found in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients. In conclusion, we propose selective advantage for the exceptional length of the ZMYM3 GA-STR in human, and its link to a spectrum of diseases in which major cognition impairment is a predominant phenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alleles
  • Base Sequence
  • Cognition*
  • Dinucleotide Repeats / genetics*
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / diagnostic imaging
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / genetics*
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / psychology
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins
  • ZMYM3 protein, human