Characterization of prevalent genetic variants in the Estonian Biobank body-mass index GWAS
Population-specific genome-wide association studies can reveal high-impact genomic variants that influence traits like body-mass index (BMI). Using the Estonian Biobank BMI dataset (n = 204,747 participants) we identified 214 genome-wide significant loci. Among those hits, we identified a common non-coding variant within the newly associated ADGRL3 gene (-0.18 kg/m²; P = 3.21 × 10⁻⁹). Moreover, the missense rare variant PTPRT:p.Arg1384His associated with lower BMI (-0.44 kg/m²; P = 2.51 × 10⁻¹⁰), while the protein-truncating variant POMC:p.Glu206* was associated with considerably higher BMI (+ 0.81 kg/m²; P = 1.48 × 10<sup>-12</sup>), both likely affecting the functioning of the leptin-melanocortin pathway. POMC:p.Glu206* was observed in different North-European populations, suggesting a broader, yet elusive, distribution of this damaging variant. These observations indicate the previously unrecognized roles of the ADGRL3 and PTPRT genes in body weight regulation and suggest an increased prevalence of the POMC:p.Glu206* variant in European populations, offering avenues for developing interventions in obesity management.
Authors
- Taavi Tillmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8428-3719)
- Erik Abner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6529-3161)
- Mari Nelis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9748-1020)
- Mait Metspalu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3099-9161)
- Liis Haljasmägi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7162-9808)
- Kelli Lehto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2735-7643)
- Lili Milani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5323-3102)
- Kristi Läll (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9161-4694)
- Georgi Hudjashov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7536-9086)
- Joel Rämö (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6429-5149)
- Uku Vainik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9375-9520)
- Hanna M. Ollila (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5302-6429)
- Hanna Maria Kariis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5612-1600)
- Kanwal Batool (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4041-5318)
- Urmo Võsa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3476-1652)
- Anders Eriksson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3436-3726)
- Tiit Nikopensius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0816-7804)
- Andres Metspalu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3718-796X)
- Kai Kisand (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5426-4648)
- Nele Taba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1953-2819)
- Hele Haapaniemi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4887-7739)
- Tõnu Esko
- Anastasiia Alekseienko
- Reedik Mägi
Institutions
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (CA)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Tallinn University (EE)
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FI)
- Estonian Biocentre (EE)
- McGill University (CA)
- University of Tartu (EE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-10-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64006-9
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.91
Funders
- European Commission
- Eesti Teadusagentuur
- Tartu Ülikool
- Research Executive Agency
- European Regional Development Fund