We apply a semi-high throughput method to search for functional variants in the COPD GWAS locus. Through the massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA), we can simultaneously measure allelic specific enhancer activity for hundreds of SNPs in human bronchial epithelial cell line. This is a sequencing-based assay where the enhancer activity is inferred by copy number of sequencing barcode that is transcribed downstream to the luciferase gene driven by SNPs-containing enhancer-promoter. Similar screening method will be applied to other GWAS regions for screening functional variants in a high-throughput way.
