RNA splicing. The human splicing code reveals new insights into the genetic determinants of disease

Science. 2015 Jan 9;347(6218):1254806. doi: 10.1126/science.1254806. Epub 2014 Dec 18.

Abstract

To facilitate precision medicine and whole-genome annotation, we developed a machine-learning technique that scores how strongly genetic variants affect RNA splicing, whose alteration contributes to many diseases. Analysis of more than 650,000 intronic and exonic variants revealed widespread patterns of mutation-driven aberrant splicing. Intronic disease mutations that are more than 30 nucleotides from any splice site alter splicing nine times as often as common variants, and missense exonic disease mutations that have the least impact on protein function are five times as likely as others to alter splicing. We detected tens of thousands of disease-causing mutations, including those involved in cancers and spinal muscular atrophy. Examination of intronic and exonic variants found using whole-genome sequencing of individuals with autism revealed misspliced genes with neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Our approach provides evidence for causal variants and should enable new discoveries in precision medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Artificial Intelligence*
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / genetics*
  • Computer Simulation
  • DNA / genetics
  • Exons / genetics
  • Genetic Code
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genome-Wide Association Study / methods*
  • Humans
  • Introns / genetics
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Annotation / methods*
  • Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / genetics*
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Quantitative Trait Loci
  • RNA Splice Sites / genetics
  • RNA Splicing / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Genetic Markers
  • MLH1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA Splice Sites
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • DNA
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1