# Utilizing single-cell Massively Parallel Reporter Assays to dissect gene by environment interactions

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2022 · $35,135

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
I propose to develop a novel assay, single-cell Massively Parallel Reporter Assay (scMPRA), to study gene by
environment interactions (GxE) and in particular gain a greater understanding of how nucleotide variation in
cis-regulatory elements interact with the variable environments of single cells to modulate gene expression.
I hypothesize that the cellular environment modifies gene expression by modulating the activity of
regulatory elements and these can behave differently due to nucleotide variants. Currently, there are no
high-throughput methods available to functionally validate variants across different cellular environments. To
address this, I will adapt a lentivirus based Massively Parallel Reporter Assay (lentiMPRA) developed in our
lab and use it in combination with 10x Genomics scRNA-seq technology to allow the simultaneous
quantification of the cellular environment via the transcriptome and of enhancer activity with the lentiMPRA
construct. This assay will provide a novel platform to test the causality of variants driving changes in gene
expression in specific environments in a high throughput manner. I will use this technology to study and
validate GxE in distinct cell types (Aim1) and in different immune stimulation conditions (Aim 2) to dissect the
relationship between immune activation and underlying genetic variation. We will use linear mixed models
(LMMs) to quantify the interaction between SNPs and environments including, cell type, cell state, and donor.
This work will map enhancers and their disease associated variants that are sensitive to the cellular
environment, providing a platform to assign causality to variants that interact with specific environments.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10304912
- **Project number:** 5F31HG011007-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary Grace Gordon
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $35,135
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-12-01 → 2022-08-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10304912

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10304912, Utilizing single-cell Massively Parallel Reporter Assays to dissect gene by environment interactions (5F31HG011007-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10304912. Licensed CC0.

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