@phdthesis{Freudenthal2020,
  author    = {Freudenthal, Jan Alexander},
  title     = {Quantitative genetics from genome assemblies to neural network aided omics-based prediction of complex traits},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-19942},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-199429},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Quantitative genetics is the study of continuously distributed traits and their ge- netic components. Recent developments in DNA sequencing technologies and computational systems allow researchers to conduct large scale in silico studies. However, going from raw DNA reads to genomic prediction of quantitative traits with the help of neural networks is a long and error-prone process. In the course of this thesis, many steps involved in this process will be assessed in depth. Chap- ter 2 will feature a study that compares the landscape of chloroplast genome as- sembly tools. Chapter 3 will present a software to perform genome-wide associa- tion studies using modern tools, which allow GWAS-Flow to outperform current state of the art software packages. Chapter 4 will give an in depth introduc- tion to machine learning and the nature of quantitative traits and will combine those to genomic prediction with artificial neural networks and compares the re- sults to those of algorithms based on linear mixed models. Finally, in Chapter 5 the results from the previous chapters are summarized and used to elucidate the complex nature of studies concerning quantitative genetics.},
  subject      = {Genetics},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Friedrich2019,
  author    = {Friedrich, Maximilian Uwe},
  title     = {Funktionelle Charakterisierung einer Tripletdeletion in SLC5A4 (SGLT3) als Kandidatengen f{\"u}r das Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/ Hyperaktivit{\"a}tssyndrom (ADHS)},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-18479},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-184791},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Natrium-Glukose Transporter (SGLT) geh{\"o}ren zur „solute carrier 5" (SLC5) Familie, die sich durch einen sekund{\"a}r aktiven, natriumabh{\"a}ngigen Transport von Zuckern und an-deren Molek{\"u}len nach intrazellul{\"a}r auszeichnen. Die durch das Gen SLC5A4 kodierte Isoform SGLT3 transportiert dagegen keinen Zucker, sondern verh{\"a}lt sich als Glukosesensor, der nach Bindung seiner Liganden eine Membrandepolarisation induziert. In genomweiten Exomsequenzierungsstudien (whole exome sequencing, WES) mehrerer erweiterter Stammb{\"a}ume mit hoher Pr{\"a}valenz des Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivit{\"a}tssyndroms (ADHS) wurde im Vorfeld eine ATG-Tripletdeletion in SLC5A4 identifiziert, die zum Verlust einer Aminos{\"a}ure (ΔM500) in SGLT3 f{\"u}hrt und zumindest partiell mit dem klinischen Ph{\"a}notyp kosegregiert. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die zentralnerv{\"o}se Expression von SGLT3 auf RNA- Ebene mittels Reverse-Transkriptase PCR sowie real-time PCR aus humanen Gesamt-RNAs nachgewiesen. Dabei konnte eine ubiquit{\"a}re Expression im Gehirn mit relativ erh{\"o}hter Expression unter anderem in Striatum und Hypothalamus, deren Dysfunktion in der Pathogenese des ADHS impliziert wurde, gezeigt werden. Da Mutationen in homologen Dom{\"a}nen der eng strukturverwandten Isoformen SGLT1 und SGLT2 sowohl intestinale als auch renale Funktionen schwer beeintr{\"a}chtigen, wurden in dieser Arbeit funktionelle Charakteristika sowohl des wildtypischen als auch der ΔM500 und der benachbarten ΔI501 Deletionsvariante von SGLT3 mittels Zwei-Elektroden Spannungs- und Stromklemme in entsprechend cRNA-injizierten Xenopus laevis Oozyten untersucht. Der hochpotente SGLT3-spezifische Iminozuckeragonist 1-Desoxynojirimycin (DNJ) induzierte an SGLT3-exprimierenden Oozyten in sauren Bedingungen etwa dreifach gr{\"o}ßere Kationeneinstr{\"o}me als D-Glukose, was sowohl im Spannungsklemmen-, und anhand einer entsprechenden Membrandepolarisation im Stromklemmenmodus gezeigt wurde. Die mit der ΔM500 bzw. ΔI501 Variante injizierten Oozyten dagegen zeigten in den maximalen Aktivierungsbedingungen um 92\% bzw. 96\% (p<0,01) reduzierte Kationeneinstr{\"o}me, sodass diese als hochgradig sch{\"a}dliche „Loss of Function" Mutationen in SGLT3 charakterisiert wurden. Dieser Befund wurde mittels bioinformatischer in-silico Effektvorhersage validiert. Um Konsequenzen der Sequenzalteration auf den Membraneinbau der Transporter zu untersuchen, wurden die mit einem gelb fluoreszierenden Farbstoff (YFP) markierten Transporter in Oozytenmembranen mittels Laser-Scanning Mikroskop nachgewiesen und die jeweiligen Mengen der Konstrukte anhand der Fluoreszenzintensit{\"a}ten quantifiziert. Dabei zeigte sich eine um 53\% bzw. 42\% (p<0,01) reduzierte Menge der mutierten Konstrukte ΔM500 bzw. ΔI501 in der Membran, was zus{\"a}tzliche sch{\"a}dliche Effekte der Mutationen auf das sogenannte Membrantargeting der Transporter belegt. Zusammenfassend demonstrieren die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit, dass die ΔM500 Variante von SGLT3, welcher in ADHS-relevanten Hirnarealen exprimiert wird, dessen sub-stratinduzierte Natriumleitf{\"a}higkeit aufhebt und den Membraneinbau beeintr{\"a}chtigen k{\"o}nnte, was in Wechselwirkung mit anderen genetischen ADHS Risikovarianten das Risiko f{\"u}r ADHS in Mutationstr{\"a}gern beeinflussen kann.},
  subject      = {ADHS},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{LamazeOeztuerkColakFischeretal.2017,
  author    = {Lamaze, Angelique and {\"O}zt{\"u}rk-{\c{C}}olak, Arzu and Fischer, Robin and Peschel, Nicolai and Koh, Kyunghee and Jepson, James E. C.},
  title     = {Regulation of sleep plasticity by a thermo-sensitive circuit in Drosophila},
  series = {Scientific Reports},
  volume    = {7},
  journal   = {Scientific Reports},
  doi       = {10.1038/srep40304},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-181146},
  pages     = {12},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Sleep is a highly conserved and essential behaviour in many species, including the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In the wild, sensory signalling encoding environmental information must be integrated with sleep drive to ensure that sleep is not initiated during detrimental conditions. However, the molecular and circuit mechanisms by which sleep timing is modulated by the environment are unclear. Here we introduce a novel behavioural paradigm to study this issue. We show that in male fruit flies, onset of the daytime siesta is delayed by ambient temperatures above 29°C. We term this effect Prolonged Morning Wakefulness (PMW). We show that signalling through the TrpA1 thermo-sensor is required for PMW, and that TrpA1 specifically impacts siesta onset, but not night sleep onset, in response to elevated temperatures. We identify two critical TrpA1-expressing circuits and show that both contact DN1p clock neurons, the output of which is also required for PMW. Finally, we identify the circadian blue-light photoreceptor CRYPTOCHROME as a molecular regulator of PMW, and propose a model in which the Drosophila nervous system integrates information encoding temperature, light, and time to dynamically control when sleep is initiated. Our results provide a platform to investigate how environmental inputs co-ordinately regulate sleep plasticity.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Merker2014,
  author    = {Merker, S{\"o}ren},
  title     = {Genome-wide screenings in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): investigation of novel candidate genes SLC2A3 and LPHN3},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-100129},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder that involves a substantial risk of persisting into adolescence and adulthood. A number of genome-wide screening studies in ADHD have been conducted in recent years, giving rise to the discovery of several variants at distinct chromosomal loci, thus emphasising the genetically complex and polygenic nature of this disorder. Accordingly, promising novel candidate genes have emerged, such as the gene encoding the glucose transporter isoform 3 (SLC2A3) and the gene encoding the latrophilin isoform 3 (LPHN3). In this thesis, both genes were investigated in form of two separated projects. The first focused on SLC2A3 polymorphisms associated with ADHD and their potential physiological impact. For this purpose, gene expression analyses in peripheral cell models were performed as well as functional EEG measurements in humans. The second project concerned the murine gene Lphn3 including the goal of developing a mouse line containing a genetically modified Lphn3 with conditional knockout potential. In this respect, a specific DNA vector was applied to target the Lphn3 gene locus in murine embryonic stem (ES) cells as a prerequisite for the generation of appropriate chimeric mice. The results of the first project showed that SLC2A3 duplication carriers displayed increased SLC2A3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood cells and significantly altered event-related potentials (ERPs) during tests of cognitive response control and working memory, possibly involving changes in prefrontal brain activity and memory processing. Interestingly, ADHD patients with the rs12842 T-allele, located within and tagging the SLC2A3 gene, also exhibited remarkable effects during these EEG measurements. However, such effects reflected a reversed pattern to the aforementioned SLC2A3 duplication carriers with ADHD, thus indicative of an opposed molecular mechanism. Besides, it emerged that the impact of the aforementioned SLC2A3 variants on different EEG parameters was generally much more pronounced in the group of ADHD patients than the healthy control group, implying a considerable interaction effect. Concerning the second project, preliminary results were gathered including the successful targeting of Lphn3 in murine ES cells as well as the production of highly chimeric, phenotypically unremarkable and mostly fertile mouse chimeras. While germline transmission of the modified Lphn3 allele has not yet occurred, there are still several newborn chimeric mice that will be tested in the near future. In conclusion, the findings suggest that SLC2A3 variants associated with ADHD are accompanied by transcriptional and functional changes in humans. Future research will help to elucidate the molecular network and neurobiological basis involved in these effects and apparently contributing to the complex clinical picture of ADHD. Moreover, given the increasing number of publications concerning latrophilins in recent years and the multitude of research opportunities provided by a conditional knockout of Lphn3 in mice, the establishment of a respective mouse line, which currently is in progress, constitutes a promising approach for the investigation of this gene and its role in ADHD.},
  subject      = {Genexpression},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Merle2009,
  author    = {Merle, Christian},
  title     = {Bedeutung von DNA- Polymorphismen f{\"u}r die Entstehung prim{\"a}rer Gonarthrose in einem arthroskopisch definierten Patientenkollektiv},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-38784},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {Die prim{\"a}re Gonarthrose ist ein komplexer, multifaktoriell bedingter Krankheitsprozess mit genetischer Komponente und gilt aufgrund ihrer epidemiologischen und sozio{\"o}konomischen Bedeutung als Volkskrankheit. Die Gene bzw. Proteine der Wnt- Familie spielen eine wichtige Rolle in der komplexen Regulation der Morphogenese, der Zelldifferenzierung , -proliferation und der Hom{\"o}ostase von Knochen und Knorpel. LRP 1 und LRP 5 fungieren als Co-rezeptoren des Wnt- Signalweges. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurden der A217V Polymorphismus des LRP 1 Gens und der A1330V Polymorphismus des LRP 5 Gens auf eine signifikante Assoziation mit dem Auftreten prim{\"a}rer Gonarthrose in einem arthroskopisch definierten Patientenkollektiv untersucht. Ziel der Studie war es, klar definierte Kollektive mit m{\"o}glichst extremen Zust{\"a}nden gegen{\"u}berzustellen und eine hochspezifische und hochsensitive Diagnostik zu verwenden. Junge, bereits in fr{\"u}hen Jahren an Gonarthrose erkrankte Patienten (<45 Jahre, Gruppe 1, n= 100) wurden {\"a}lteren Patienten (>55 Jahre, Gruppe 3, n= 103), die nicht an Gonarthrose erkrankt waren, gegen{\"u}bergestellt. Als weitere Gruppe dienten Patienten, welche eine endoprothetische Versorgung bei fortgeschrittener Gonarthrose erhielten (>55 Jahre, Gruppe 2, n= 86). Die Diagnose der prim{\"a}ren Gonarthrose wurde anhand anamnestischer Daten sowie arthroskopischer bzw. direkt visuell erhobender Befunde im Rahmen der Arthrotomie bei Prothesenimplantation gestellt. Der Arthroseausschluss (Gruppe 3) erfolgte ebenfalls arthroskopisch. Methodisch wurden der WOMAC- Score, die Restriktions- Fragment- L{\"a}ngen- Polymorphismus (RFLP) Analyse sowie die Gensequenzierung angewendet. Die Allelverteilung der untersuchten Polymorphismen von LRP 1 und LRP 5 konnte zwischen den beiden gegen{\"u}bergestellten Gruppen 1 und 3 keinen signifikanten Unterschied aufweisen. F{\"u}r den LRP 5 A1330V Polymorphismus ergab sich ein signifikanter Unterschied (p< 0,05) zwischen den Gruppen 2 und 3. Dies kann als Hinweis auf eine m{\"o}gliche arthrosef{\"o}rdernde oder auch protektive Funktion dieses Polymorphismus gewertet werden. Im Vergleich der Extremkollektive (Gruppe 1 vs. Gruppe 3) deutet sich lediglich ein Trend an (p= 0,067), so dass eine Assoziation des A1330V Polymorphismus des LRP 5 Gens mit prim{\"a}rer Gonarthrose erst durch weitere Untersuchungen mit h{\"o}herer Fallzahl eindeutig best{\"a}tigt bzw. widerlegt werden kann.},
  subject      = {Kniegelenkarthrose},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Mortimer2021,
  author    = {Mortimer, Niall Patrick},
  title     = {ADHD Genetics in Mouse and Man},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-23626},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-236265},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an estimated heritability of around 70\%. In order to fully understand ADHD biology it is necessary to incorporate multiple different types of research. In this thesis, both human and animal model research is described as both lines of research are required to elucidate the aetiology of ADHD and development new treatments. The role of a single gene, Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor L3 (ADGRL3) was investigated using a knockout mouse model. ADGRL3 has putative roles in neuronal migration and synapse function. Various polymorphisms in ADGRL3 have been linked with an increased risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in human studies. Adgrl3-deficient mice were examined across multiple behavioural domains related to ADHD: locomotive activity, visuospatial and recognition memory, gait impulsivity, aggression, sociability and anxiety-like behaviour. The transcriptomic alterations caused by Adgrl3-depletion were analysed by RNA-sequencing of three ADHD-relevant brain regions: prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus and striatum. Increased locomotive activity in Adgrl3-/- mice was observed across all tests with the specific gait analysis revealing subtle gait abnormalities. Spatial memory and learning domains were also impaired in these mice. Increased levels of impulsivity and sociability accompanying decreased aggression were also detected. None of these alterations were observed in Adgrl3+/- mice. The numbers of genes found to exhibit differential expression was relatively small in all brain regions sequenced. The absence of large scale gene expression dysregulation indicates a specific pathway of action, rather than a broad neurobiological perturbation. The PFC had the greatest number of differentially expressed genes and gene-set analysis of differential expression in this brain region detected a number of ADHD-relevant pathways including dopaminergic synapses as well as cocaine and amphetamine addiction. The most dysregulated gene in the PFC was Slc6a3 which codes for the dopamine transporter, a molecule vital to current pharmacological treatment of ADHD. The behavioural and transcriptomic results described in this thesis further validate Adgrl3 constitutive knockout mice as an experimental model of ADHD and provide neuroanatomical targets for future studies involving ADGRL3 modified animal models. The study of ADHD risk genes such as ADGRL3 requires the gene to be first identified using human studies. These studies may be genome based such as genome wide association studies (GWAS) or transcriptome based using microarray or RNA sequencing technology. To explore ADHD biology in humans the research described in this thesis includes both GWAS and trancriptomic data. A two-step transcriptome profiling was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 143 ADHD subjects and 169 healthy controls. We combined GWAS and expression data in an expression-based Polygenic Risk Score (PRS) analysis in a total sample of 879 ADHD cases and 1919 controls from three different datasets. Through this exploratory study we found eight differentially expressed genes in ADHD and no support for the genetic background of the disorder playing a role in the aberrant expression levels identified. These results highlight promising candidate genes and gene pathways for ADHD and support the use of peripheral tissues to assess gene expression signatures for ADHD. This thesis illustrates how both human and animal model research is required to increase our understanding of ADHD. The animal models provide biological insight into the targets identified in human studies and may themselves provide further relevant gene targets. Only by combining research from disparate sources can we develop the thorough understanding on ADHD biology required for treatment development, which is the ultimate goal of translational science research.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Pennington2018,
  author    = {Pennington, Laura Sophie},
  title     = {The role of Cadherin-13 in serotonergic neurons during different murine developmental stages},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-161331},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Abstract Background: Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) ranges among the most common neurodevelopmental disorders worldwide with a prevalence of 3-12\% in childhood and 1-5\% for adults. Over the last decade extensive genetic research has been conducted in order to determine its causative genetic factors. None of the so far identified susceptibility genes, however, could explain the estimated ADHD heritability of 76\%. In this thesis one of the most promising candidates -Cadherin 13 (Cdh13) - was examined in terms of its influence on the central serotonergic (5-HT) system. In addition to that, the Cdh13 protein distribution pattern was analysed over time. Methods: The developing serotonergic system was compared over three embryonic and postnatal stages (E13.5, E17.5 and P7) in different Cdh13 genotypes (WT, HZ and KO) using immunohistochemistry and various double staining protocols. Results: The raphe nuclei of the 5-HT system develop in spite of Cdh13 absence and show a comparable mature constellation. The cells in the KO, however, are slightly more scattered than in the WT. Furthermore the dynamics of their formation is altered, with a transient delay in migration at E13.5. In early developmental stages the total amount of serotonergic cells is reduced in KO and HZ, though their proportional distribution to the raphe nuclei stays constant. Strikingly, at P7 the absolute numbers are comparable again. Concerning the Cdh13 protein, it shows high concentrations on fibres running through hindbrain and midbrain areas at E13.5. This, however, changes over time, and it becomes more evenly spread until P7. Furthermore, its presence in serotonergic cells could be visualised using confocal microscopy. Since the described pattern is only in parts congruent to the localisation of serotonergic neurons, it is most likely that Cdh13 is present in other developing neurotransmitter systems, such as the dopaminergic one, as well. Conclusion: It could be proven that Cdh13 is expressed in serotonergic cells and that its knockout does affect the developing serotonergic system to some degree. Its absence, however, only slightly and transiently affects the measured parameters of serotonergic system development, indicating a possible compensation of CDH13 function by other molecules in the case of Cdh13 deficiency. In addition further indicators could be found for an influence of Cdh13 on outgrowth and path finding of neuronal processes.},
  subject      = {Cadherine},
  language  = {en}
}