Comprehensive In Silico Characterization of the Coding and Non-Coding SNPs in Human Dectin-1 Gene with the Potential of High-Risk Pathogenicity Associated with Fungal Infections

The human C-type lectin domain family 7 member A (CLEC7A) gene encodes a Dectin-1 protein that recognizes beta-1,3-linked and beta-1,6-linked glucans, which form the cell walls of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. It plays a role in immunity against fungal infections through pathogen recognition and immune signaling. This study aimed to explore the impact of nsSNPs in the human CLEC7A gene through computational tools (MAPP, PhD-SNP, PolyPhen-1, PolyPhen-2, SIFT, SNAP, and PredictSNP) to identify the most deleterious and damaging nsSNPs. Further, their effect on protein stability was checked along with conservation and solvent accessibility analysis by I-Mutant 2.0, ConSurf, and Project HOPE and post-translational modification analysis using MusiteDEEP. Out of the 28 nsSNPs that were found to be deleterious, 25 nsSNPs affected protein stability. Some SNPs were finalized for structural analysis with Missense 3D. Seven nsSNPs affected protein stability. Results from this study predicted that C54R, L64P, C120G, C120S, S135C, W141R, W141S, C148G, L155P, L155V, I158M, I158T, D159G, D159R, I167T, W180R, L183F, W192R, G197E, G197V, C220S, C233Y, I240T, E242G, and Y3D were the most structurally and functionally significant nsSNPs in the human CLEC7A gene. No nsSNPs were found in the predicted sites for post-translational modifications. In the 5′ untranslated region, two SNPs, rs536465890 and rs527258220, showed possible miRNA target sites and DNA binding sites. The present study identified structurally and functionally significant nsSNPs in the CLEC7A gene. These nsSNPs may potentially be used for further evaluation as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.