# Integrated Clinomics and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approaches Reveal the SAA1.1 Allele as a Biomarker in Alkaptonuria Disease Severity

## TL;DR

This study finds that the SAA1.1 allele is linked to more severe inflammation in alkaptonuria, offering a new biomarker and potential treatment targets.

## Contribution

The study identifies SAA1.1 as a novel genetic biomarker for inflammation severity in alkaptonuria.

## Key findings

- AKU patients with the SAA1.1 allele show higher inflammation markers.
- SAA1.1 has structural instability that accelerates amyloid fibril formation.
- Stabilizing SAA1.1 could prevent amyloidosis and reduce inflammation in AKU.

## Abstract

Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by the accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA), leading to progressive ochronosis and joint degeneration. While much is known about HGA’s role in tissue damage, the molecular mechanisms underlying acute inflammation in AKU remain poorly understood. Serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins are key mediators of the inflammatory response, yet their potential as biomarkers for inflammation in AKU has not been explored. This study investigated the role of the SAA1.1 allele as a biomarker for the severity of acute inflammation in AKU. Data from the ApreciseKUre Precision Medicine Ecosystem were analyzed to assess the relationship between SAA1 allelic variants and inflammatory markers. Molecular dynamics simulations compared the structural dynamics of SAA1.1 and SAA1.2 isoforms, with standard modeling and analysis pipelines employed. Using a clinomics approach, we showed that AKU patients expressing the SAA1.1 allele have significantly higher acute inflammation-related markers. Extensive molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the SAA1.1 isoform lent high structural instability of the C-terminal domain, accelerating the formation of amyloid fibrils and exacerbating the inflammatory condition. These findings would identify the SAA1.1 allele as a novel genetic biomarker for the progression of secondary amyloidosis in AKU and its severity. Furthermore, new molecular insights into the inflammatory mechanisms of AKU were provided, suggesting potential therapeutic approaches aimed at stabilizing SAA1.1 protein and preventing amyloid fibril formation, with significant implications in AKU and precision medicine strategies for SAA-related diseases.