Differential Motif and Transcription Factor Binding Predictions Link to ULK4 Gene Polymorphisms and Associated with Essential Hypertension in Caucasian Females

Genome-wide association studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Unc51-like-kinase 4 (ULK4) gene, to be associated with blood pressure. Aims (i) replicate and validate previously reported associations between ULK4 gene hypertension on hypertensive cases normotensive controls, (ii) identify silico potential functionality of variants. A total 558 genotyped Caucasian subjects (n=293 & n=265 controls) were recruited clinically characterized at Hypertension clinic, University Ottawa Heart Institute Cardiology Warsaw, Poland. 58 SNPs tested. Our study fails find any significant hypertension. However, sex-specific categorization data revealed strong quantitative (I) rs3897976 (p=0.0008) potassium females rs9818193 (p=0.0005) urinary sodium female. No signification found males. In-silico motif search differential affinity common rare allele Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (Mef2) Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) GATA binding 5 (GATA5). unveils novel levels, levels females. Future work needs confirm polymorphisms.