Question

Genome-wide association studies have identified many genomic loci at which the presence of one or more SNPs is associated with altered risk of a particular disease. Almost all of these SNPs have a very small influence on risk of the corresponding disease, typically with effect sizes of less than 1.5. Does this mean the affected genes are not likely to be good drug targets? If not, why not? What are the data so far on that?

Answer 1

• Yes, the genes are good drug targets.
• SNPs modify the gene by changing an aminoacid and also due to the polymorphism in the coding regions of the gene.
• Several drug targets are discovered depending on the type of disease.
• Finding of genetic variants that is caused by SNPs in the affected individuals and screening for those specific variants in the unaffected people.
• Markers like enzymes or specific proteins are used as drug targets in these disaeses.
• Regulatory SNPs are easy to identify. So, the drug targets can be easy to detect and potential gene targets can be identified.
• But the SNPs that are present in the coding region is difficult to identify and also difficult for drug targets.
• Transgenic models are also created for drug action and treating SNPs.