PCSK6 is associated with handedness in individuals with dyslexia
Abstract
Approximately 90% of humans are right-handed. Handedness is a heritable trait, yet the genetic basis is not well understood. Here we report a genome-wide association study for a quantitative measure of relative hand skill in individuals with dyslexia [reading disability (RD)]. The most highly associated marker, rs11855415 (P = 4.7 x 10(-7)), is located within PCSK6. Two independent cohorts with RD show the same trend, with the minor allele conferring greater relative right-hand skill. Meta-analysis of all three RD samples is genome-wide significant (n = 744, P = 2.0 x 10(-8)). Conversely, in the general population (n = 2666), we observe a trend towards reduced laterality of hand skill for the minor allele (P = 0.0020). These results provide molecular evidence that cerebral asymmetry and dyslexia are linked. Furthermore, PCSK6 is a protease that cleaves the left-right axis determining protein NODAL. Functional studies of PCSK6 promise insights into mechanisms underlying cerebral lateralization and dyslexia.
Citation
Scerri , T S , Brandler , W M , Paracchini , S , Morris , A P , Ring , S M , Richardson , A J , Talcott , J B , Stein , J & Monaco , A P 2011 , ' PCSK6 is associated with handedness in individuals with dyslexia ' , Human Molecular Genetics , vol. 20 , no. 3 , pp. 608-614 . https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddq475
Publication
Human Molecular Genetics
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0964-6906Type
Journal article
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