# Genes regulated by BP Noncoding SNPs in Relevant Cells

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 2024 · $666,608

## Abstract

PROJECT 1 PROJECT SUMMARY
The vast majority of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with complex human traits, including
blood pressure (BP), are located in noncoding regions of DNA. These noncoding SNPs, especially the ones
located in haplotype regions far from protein-coding genes, most likely influence BP by regulating gene
expression. Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) studies are beginning to enable the identification of
associations between noncoding SNPs and gene expression.
 However, very few studies have gone beyond associations to examine the functional effect of BP-
associated noncoding SNPs on gene expression. Such studies would have to overcome substantial
challenges. First, BP-associated noncoding SNPs could regulate the expression of distant protein-coding
genes through chromatin folding or noncoding RNA, which means one cannot assume that the protein-coding
genes that the SNPs regulate are the ones that are sequentially closest to the SNPs. Second, results from
eQTL and other studies indicate the effect of noncoding SNPs on gene expression is often cell type-specific.
 In Project 1 of this PPG, we have developed several approaches and methods to overcome these
challenges and to test the overall hypothesis that BP-associated noncoding SNPs regulate the expression of
genes that are physiologically important to BP regulation. All three aims in Project 1 share the goal of
identifying the effect of BP-associated noncoding SNPs on gene expression in BP-relevant cell types. Each
aim will focus on a group of LD (linkage disequilibrium) regions located far from any protein-coding gene and a
specific hypothesis. The mechanistic aspect of each hypothesis will be tested in Projects 2 and 3 of this PPG.
The feasibility of Project 1 is supported by an extensive series of preparatory and preliminary studies.
 The overall goal of this PPG proposal is to identify genes regulated by human BP-associated
noncoding SNPs, examining the underlying mechanisms, and investigating their influence on BP. Project 1
focuses on the first part of the overall goal and will contribute to the goal of the program through extensive
integration with Projects 2 and 3. Project 1 will rely on Core B for extensive RNA-seq analysis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10903753
- **Project number:** 5P01HL149620-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **Principal Investigator:** MINGYU LIANG
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $666,608
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-15 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10903753

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10903753, Genes regulated by BP Noncoding SNPs in Relevant Cells (5P01HL149620-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10903753. Licensed CC0.

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