In Silico Study to Predict the Structural and Functional Consequences of SNPs on Biomarkers of Ovarian Cancer (OC) and BPA Exposure-Associated OC

Background: Recently, we have shown that seven genes, namely GBP5, IRS2, KRT4, LINCOO707, MRPL55, RRS1 and SLC4A11, have prognostic power for the overall survival in ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: We present an analysis on the association of these genes with any phenotypes and mutations indicative of involvement in female cancers and predict the structural and functional consequences of those SNPS using in silico tools. Results: These seven genes present with 976 SNPs/mutations that are associated with human cancers, out of which 284 related to female cancers. We have then analysed the mutation impact on amino acid polarity, charge and water affinity, leading to the identification of 30 mutations in gynaecological cancers where amino acid (aa) changes lead to opposite polarity, charges and water affinity. Out of these 30 mutations identified, only a missense mutation (i.e., R831C/R804C in uterine corpus endometrial carcinomas, UCEC) was suggestive of structural damage on the SLC4A11 protein. Conclusions: We demonstrate that the R831C/R804C mutation is deleterious and the predicted ΔΔG values suggest that the mutation reduces the stability of the protein. Future in vitro studies should provide further insight into the role of this transporter protein in UCEC.