Genome-wide association studies have identified a locus on chromosome 10q22, where many co-inherited single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study seeks to identify the impact of this locus on gene expression at the transcript isoform level in human left atria and to gain insight into potential causal variants. Bulk RNA sequencing was analyzed to identify myozenin 1 (MYOZ1) and synaptopodin 2-like (SYNPO2L) transcript isoforms and the association of common SNPs in this region with transcript isoform expression levels. Chromatin marks were used to suggest candidate regulatory SNPs in this region. Protein amino acid changes were examined for predicted functional consequences. Transfection of MYOZ1 and two SYNPO2L isoforms were performed to localize their encoded proteins in cardiomyocytes derived from stem cells. We identified one MYOZ1 transcript isoform and four SYNPO2L transcript isoforms, two of which encode proteins, while the other two encode long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). The risk allele of the strongest AF susceptibility SNP on chromosome 10q22 is associated with decreased MYOZ1 expression and increased expression of the two SNYPO2L lncRNA isoforms. There are many SNPs co-inherited with the top AF-associated SNP due to linkage disequilibrium (LD), including rs11000728, which we propose as the MYOZ1 regulatory SNP, confirmed by reporter gene transfection. In addition, this LD block includes three missense SNPs in the SYNPO2L gene, with the minor protective haplotype predicted to be detrimental to protein function. MYOZ1 and both protein isoforms of SYNPO2L were localized to the sarcomere. This is a complex locus with the potential for several SNPs in a haplotype to alter AF susceptibility by opposing effects on MYOZ1 and SYNPO2L lncRNA expression, along with effects on SYNPO2L protein function.
Keywords: GWAS; MYOZ1; SNYPO2L; atrial fibrillation; eQTL.