Triplet repeat in the Repin1 3'-untranslated region on rat chromosome 4 correlates with facets of the metabolic syndrome

Aims: Congenic and subcongenic rat strains confirmed quantitative trait loci for facets of the metabolic syndrome between 60.53 and 77.11 Mb on chromosome 4. The analysis of candidate genes in this region favoured the replication initiator 1 (Repin1) characterised by a SNP in coding region and a triplet repeat (TTT) in the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR). Methods: We analysed 9 rat strains (BB/OK, SHR, F344, BN, DA, LEW, hHTg, WOKW and their founders WOK-F) and 4 wild rats on DNA (sequencing), RNA (gene expression in blood, liver, subcutaneous and epididymal adipocytes) and phenotypic level (body weight, blood gl…