A study in Nature Genetics offers fresh insights into how genetic differences affect the levels of proteins in our bodies. This research, part of the Japan COVID-19 Task Force, looked at thousands of blood and plasma samples to explore the genetic variants that impact both gene expression and protein levels.
While scientists have long studied how genes control the production of mRNA, this study focused on protein quantitative trait loci, which highlight how specific genetic variations influence protein levels. The findings revealed that some genetic mutations, particularly those affecting the structure of proteins, were linked to changes in protein levels in the bloodstream.
The study also found that the way genes regulate protein levels is different from how they regulate mRNA levels, highlighting distinct mechanisms at work. An interesting discovery was the negative relationship between the mRNA and protein levels of the ABO blood group gene, due to nearby genetic variants.