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Kim JH, Koh IG, Lee H, Lee GH, Song DY, Kim SW, Kim Y, Han JH, Bong G, Lee J, Byun H, Son JH, Kim YR, Lee Y, Kim JJ, Park JW, Kim IB, Choi JK, Jang JH, Trost B, Lee J, Kim E, Yoo HJ, An JY. Short tandem repeat expansions in cortical layer-specific genes implicate in phenotypic severity and adaptability of autism spectrum disorder. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 78:405-415. [PMID: 38751214 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
AIM Short tandem repeats (STRs) are repetitive DNA sequences and highly mutable in various human disorders. While the involvement of STRs in various genetic disorders has been extensively studied, their role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to investigate genetic association of STR expansions with ASD using whole genome sequencing (WGS) and identify risk loci associated with ASD phenotypes. METHODS We analyzed WGS data of 634 ASD families and performed genome-wide evaluation for 12,929 STR loci. We found rare STR expansions that exceeded normal repeat lengths in autism cases compared to unaffected controls. By integrating single cell RNA and ATAC sequencing datasets of human postmortem brains, we prioritized STR loci in genes specifically expressed in cortical development stages. A deep learning method was used to predict functionality of ASD-associated STR loci. RESULTS In ASD cases, rare STR expansions predominantly occurred in early cortical layer-specific genes involved in neurodevelopment, highlighting the cellular specificity of STR-associated genes in ASD risk. Leveraging deep learning prediction models, we demonstrated that these STR expansions disrupted the regulatory activity of enhancers and promoters, suggesting a potential mechanism through which they contribute to ASD pathogenesis. We found that individuals with ASD-associated STR expansions exhibited more severe ASD phenotypes and diminished adaptability compared to non-carriers. CONCLUSION Short tandem repeat expansions in cortical layer-specific genes are associated with ASD and could potentially be a risk genetic factor for ASD. Our study is the first to show evidence of STR expansion associated with ASD in an under-investigated population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hyun Kim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- L-HOPE Program for Community-Based Total Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In Gyeong Koh
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- L-HOPE Program for Community-Based Total Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeji Lee
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- L-HOPE Program for Community-Based Total Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gang-Hee Lee
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- L-HOPE Program for Community-Based Total Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Da-Yea Song
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Whee Kim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- L-HOPE Program for Community-Based Total Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujin Kim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- L-HOPE Program for Community-Based Total Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hyun Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Guiyoung Bong
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeewon Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejung Byun
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul Metropolitan Children's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyun Son
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul Metropolitan Children's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Rim Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoojeong Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Justine Jaewon Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Woo Park
- Center for Biomedical Computing, Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Il Bin Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Kyoon Choi
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ja-Hyun Jang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Brett Trost
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Junehawk Lee
- Center for Biomedical Computing, Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunjoon Kim
- Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jeong Yoo
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon-Yong An
- Department of Integrated Biomedical and Life Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- L-HOPE Program for Community-Based Total Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- School of Biosystem and Biomedical Science, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Rajan-Babu IS, Dolzhenko E, Eberle MA, Friedman JM. Sequence composition changes in short tandem repeats: heterogeneity, detection, mechanisms and clinical implications. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:476-499. [PMID: 38467784 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00696-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Short tandem repeats (STRs) are a class of repetitive elements, composed of tandem arrays of 1-6 base pair sequence motifs, that comprise a substantial fraction of the human genome. STR expansions can cause a wide range of neurological and neuromuscular conditions, known as repeat expansion disorders, whose age of onset, severity, penetrance and/or clinical phenotype are influenced by the length of the repeats and their sequence composition. The presence of non-canonical motifs, depending on the type, frequency and position within the repeat tract, can alter clinical outcomes by modifying somatic and intergenerational repeat stability, gene expression and mutant transcript-mediated and/or protein-mediated toxicities. Here, we review the diverse structural conformations of repeat expansions, technological advances for the characterization of changes in sequence composition, their clinical correlations and the impact on disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indhu-Shree Rajan-Babu
- Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, and Children's & Women's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | | | | | - Jan M Friedman
- Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, and Children's & Women's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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3
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Huang Y, Wang M, Liu C, He G. Comprehensive landscape of non-CODIS STRs in global populations provides new insights into challenging DNA profiles. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2024; 70:103010. [PMID: 38271830 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2024.103010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The worldwide implementation of short tandem repeats (STR) profiles in forensic genetics necessitated establishing and expanding the CODIS core loci set to facilitated efficient data management and exchange. Currently, the mainstay CODIS STRs are adopted in most general-purpose forensic kits. However, relying solely on these loci failed to yield satisfactory results for challenging tasks, such as bio-geographical ancestry inference, complex DNA mixture profile interpretation, and distant kinship analysis. In this context, non-CODIS STRs are potent supplements to enhance the systematic discriminating power, particularly when combined with the high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique. Nevertheless, comprehensive evaluation on non-CODIS STRs in diverse populations was scarce, hindering their further application in routine caseworks. To address this gap, we investigated genetic variations of 178 historically available non-CODIS STRs from ethnolinguistically different worldwide populations and studied their characteristics and forensic potentials via high-coverage whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. Initially, we delineated the genomic properties of these non-CODIS markers through sequence searching, repeat structure scanning, and manual inspection. Subsequent population genetics analysis suggested that these non-CODIS STRs had comparable polymorphism levels and forensic utility to CODIS STRs. Furthermore, we constructed a theoretical next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel comprising 108 STRs (20 CODIS STRs and 88 non-CODIS STRs), and evaluated its performance in inferring bio-geographical ancestry origins, deconvoluting complex DNA mixtures, and differentiating distant kinships using real and simulated datasets. Our findings demonstrated that incorporating supplementary non-CODIS STRs enabled the extrapolation of multidimensional information from a single STR profile, thereby facilitating the analysis of challenging forensic tasks. In conclusion, this study presents an extensive genomic landscape of forensic non-CODIS STRs among global populations, and emphasized the imperative inclusion of additional polymorphic non-CODIS STRs in future NGS-based forensic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuguo Huang
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Mengge Wang
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Anti-Drug Technology Center of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510230, China; Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Guanglin He
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Center for Archaeological Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, China.
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Felício D, du Mérac TR, Amorim A, Martins S. Functional implications of paralog genes in polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias. Hum Genet 2023; 142:1651-1676. [PMID: 37845370 PMCID: PMC10676324 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02607-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) comprise a group of autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders caused by (CAG/CAA)n expansions. The elongated stretches of adjacent glutamines alter the conformation of the native proteins inducing neurotoxicity, and subsequent motor and neurological symptoms. Although the etiology and neuropathology of most polyQ SCAs have been extensively studied, only a limited selection of therapies is available. Previous studies on SCA1 demonstrated that ATXN1L, a human duplicated gene of the disease-associated ATXN1, alleviated neuropathology in mice models. Other SCA-associated genes have paralogs (i.e., copies at different chromosomal locations derived from duplication of the parental gene), but their functional relevance and potential role in disease pathogenesis remain unexplored. Here, we review the protein homology, expression pattern, and molecular functions of paralogs in seven polyQ dominant ataxias-SCA1, SCA2, MJD/SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, SCA17, and DRPLA. Besides ATXN1L, we highlight ATXN2L, ATXN3L, CACNA1B, ATXN7L1, ATXN7L2, TBPL2, and RERE as promising functional candidates to play a role in the neuropathology of the respective SCA, along with the parental gene. Although most of these duplicates lack the (CAG/CAA)n region, if functionally redundant, they may compensate for a partial loss-of-function or dysfunction of the wild-type genes in SCAs. We aim to draw attention to the hypothesis that paralogs of disease-associated genes may underlie the complex neuropathology of dominant ataxias and potentiate new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Felício
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Tanguy Rubat du Mérac
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - António Amorim
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Martins
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
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Wang JY, Sonico GJ, Salcedo-Arellano MJ, Hagerman RJ, Martinez-Cerdeno V. A Postmortem MRI Study of Cerebrovascular Disease and Iron Content at End-Stage of Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome. Cells 2023; 12:1898. [PMID: 37508562 PMCID: PMC10377990 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain changes at the end-stage of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) are largely unknown due to mobility impairment. We conducted a postmortem MRI study of FXTAS to quantify cerebrovascular disease, brain atrophy and iron content, and examined their relationships using principal component analysis (PCA). Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) was observed in 4/17 FXTAS cases, among which one was confirmed by histologic staining. Compared with seven control brains, FXTAS cases showed higher ratings of T2-hyperintensities (indicating cerebral small vessel disease) in the cerebellum, globus pallidus and frontoparietal white matter, and significant atrophy in the cerebellar white matter, red nucleus and dentate nucleus. PCA of FXTAS cases revealed negative associations of T2-hyperintensity ratings with anatomic volumes and iron content in the white matter, hippocampus and amygdala, that were independent from a highly correlated number of regions with ICH and iron content in subcortical nuclei. Post-hoc analysis confirmed PCA findings and further revealed increased iron content in the white matter, hippocampus and amygdala in FXTAS cases compared to controls, after adjusting for T2-hyperintensity ratings. These findings indicate that both ischemic and hemorrhagic brain damage may occur in FXTAS, with the former being marked by demyelination/iron depletion and atrophy, and the latter by ICH and iron accumulation in basal ganglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yi Wang
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA
| | - Gerard J. Sonico
- Imaging Research Center, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
| | - Maria Jimena Salcedo-Arellano
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Randi J. Hagerman
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Veronica Martinez-Cerdeno
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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6
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Zhao M, Shu G, Hu Y, Cao G, Wang Y. Pattern and variation in simple sequence repeat (SSR) at different genomic regions and its implications to maize evolution and breeding. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:136. [PMID: 36944913 PMCID: PMC10029318 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09156-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive DNA sequences accounts for over 80% of maize genome. Although simple sequence repeats (SSRs) account for only 0.03% of the genome, they have been widely used in maize genetic research and breeding as highly informative codominant DNA markers. The genome-wide distribution and polymorphism of SSRs are not well studied due to the lack of high-quality genome DNA sequence data. RESULTS In this study, using data from high-quality de novo-sequenced maize genomes of five representative maize inbred lines, we revealed that SSRs were more densely present in telomeric region than centromeric region, and were more abundant in genic sequences than intergenic sequences. On genic sequences, tri- and hexanucleotide motifs were more abundant in CDS sequence and some mono- and dinucleotide motifs were more abundant in UTR sequences. Median length and chromosomal density of SSRs were both narrowly range-bound, with median length of 14-18 bp and genome-wide average density of 3355.77 bp/Mbp. LTR-RTs of < 0.4 Mya had higher SSR density (4498-4992 bp/Mbp). The genome-specific and motif-specific SSR polymorphism were studied. Their potential breeding applications were discussed. CONCLUSIONS We found that the median length of SSR sequences of different SSR motifs was nearly constant. SSR density in genic regions was much higher than intergenic regions. In addition, SSR density at LTR-RTs of different evolutionary ages varied in a narrow range. The SSRs and their LTR-RT carriers evolved at an equal rate. All these observations indicated that SSR length and density were under control of yet unknown evolutionary forces. The chromosome region-specific and motif-specific SSR polymorphisms we observed supported the notion that SSR polymorphism was invaluable genome resource for developing highly informative genome and gene markers in maize genetic research and molecular breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiqi Zhao
- Zhengzhou University Graduate Student Training Base at Beijing Lantron Seed, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Guoping Shu
- Zhengzhou University Graduate Student Training Base at Beijing Lantron Seed, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Center of Biotechnology, Beijing Lantron Seed, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yanhong Hu
- Zhengzhou University Graduate Student Training Base at Beijing Lantron Seed, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- Center of Biotechnology, Beijing Lantron Seed, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Gangqiang Cao
- Zhengzhou University Graduate Student Training Base at Beijing Lantron Seed, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Yibo Wang
- Zhengzhou University Graduate Student Training Base at Beijing Lantron Seed, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
- Center of Biotechnology, Beijing Lantron Seed, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
- Henan LongPing-Lantron AgriScience & Technology Co., LTD, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
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7
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Wang JY, Sonico GJ, Salcedo-Arellano MJ, Hagerman RJ, Martínez-Cerdeño V. A postmortem MRI study of cerebrovascular disease and iron content at end-stage of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2440612. [PMID: 36711694 PMCID: PMC9882645 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2440612/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Brain changes at end-stage of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) are largely unknown due to mobility impairment. We conducted a postmortem MRI study of FXTAS to quantify cerebrovascular disease, brain atrophy, and iron content and examined their relationships using principal component analysis (PCA). Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) was observed in 4/17 FXTAS cases among which one was confirmed by histologic staining. Compared with seven control brains, FXTAS cases showed higher ratings of T2-hyperintensities (indicating cerebral small vessel disease) in the cerebellum, globus pallidus, and frontoparietal white matter and significant atrophy in cerebellar white matter, red nucleus, and dentate nucleus. PCA of FXTAS cases revealed negative associations of T2-hyperintensity ratings with anatomic volumes and iron content in the white matter, hippocampus, and amygdala, that were independent from highly correlated number of regions with ICH and iron content in subcortical nuclei. Post hoc analysis confirmed PCA findings and further revealed increased iron content in the white matter, hippocampus, and amygdala in FXTAS cases than controls after adjusting for T2-hyperintensity ratings. These findings indicate that both ischemic and hemorrhagic brain damage may occur in FXTAS, with the former marked by demyelination/iron depletion and atrophy and the latter, ICH and iron accumulation in basal ganglia.
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8
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Storer JM, Hubley R, Rosen J, Smit AFA. Methodologies for the De novo Discovery of Transposable Element Families. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:709. [PMID: 35456515 PMCID: PMC9025800 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery and characterization of transposable element (TE) families are crucial tasks in the process of genome annotation. Careful curation of TE libraries for each organism is necessary as each has been exposed to a unique and often complex set of TE families. De novo methods have been developed; however, a fully automated and accurate approach to the development of complete libraries remains elusive. In this review, we cover established methods and recent developments in de novo TE analysis. We also present various methodologies used to assess these tools and discuss opportunities for further advancement of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Arian F. A. Smit
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (J.M.S.); (R.H.); (J.R.)
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9
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Stevanovski I, Chintalaphani SR, Gamaarachchi H, Ferguson JM, Pineda SS, Scriba CK, Tchan M, Fung V, Ng K, Cortese A, Houlden H, Dobson-Stone C, Fitzpatrick L, Halliday G, Ravenscroft G, Davis MR, Laing NG, Fellner A, Kennerson M, Kumar KR, Deveson IW. Comprehensive genetic diagnosis of tandem repeat expansion disorders with programmable targeted nanopore sequencing. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm5386. [PMID: 35245110 PMCID: PMC8896783 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm5386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
More than 50 neurological and neuromuscular diseases are caused by short tandem repeat (STR) expansions, with 37 different genes implicated to date. We describe the use of programmable targeted long-read sequencing with Oxford Nanopore's ReadUntil function for parallel genotyping of all known neuropathogenic STRs in a single assay. Our approach enables accurate, haplotype-resolved assembly and DNA methylation profiling of STR sites, from a list of predetermined candidates. This correctly diagnoses all individuals in a small cohort (n = 37) including patients with various neurogenetic diseases (n = 25). Targeted long-read sequencing solves large and complex STR expansions that confound established molecular tests and short-read sequencing and identifies noncanonical STR motif conformations and internal sequence interruptions. We observe a diversity of STR alleles of known and unknown pathogenicity, suggesting that long-read sequencing will redefine the genetic landscape of repeat disorders. Last, we show how the inclusion of pharmacogenomic genes as secondary ReadUntil targets can further inform patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Stevanovski
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sanjog R. Chintalaphani
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Hasindu Gamaarachchi
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - James M. Ferguson
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sandy S. Pineda
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Carolin K. Scriba
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Diagnostic Genomics, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Michel Tchan
- Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Victor Fung
- Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Karl Ng
- Department of Neurology, Royal North Shore Hospital and The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrea Cortese
- Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Henry Houlden
- Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Carol Dobson-Stone
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Lauren Fitzpatrick
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Glenda Halliday
- The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Gianina Ravenscroft
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Mark R. Davis
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Nigel G. Laing
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Diagnostic Genomics, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Avi Fellner
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Raphael Recanati Genetics Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel
- The Neurology Department, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Marina Kennerson
- Northcott Neuroscience Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
| | - Kishore R. Kumar
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
- Neurology Department, Central Clinical School, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia
| | - Ira W. Deveson
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Finding and Characterizing Repeats in Plant Genomes. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2443:327-385. [PMID: 35037215 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2067-0_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Plant genomes contain a particularly high proportion of repeated structures of various types. This chapter proposes a guided tour of the available software that can help biologists to scan automatically for these repeats in sequence data or check hypothetical models intended to characterize their structures. Since transposable elements (TEs) are a major source of repeats in plants, many methods have been used or developed for this broad class of sequences. They are representative of the range of tools available for other classes of repeats and we have provided two sections on this topic (for the analysis of genomes or directly of sequenced reads), as well as a selection of the main existing software. It may be hard to keep up with the profusion of proposals in this dynamic field and the rest of the chapter is devoted to the foundations of an efficient search for repeats and more complex patterns. We first introduce the key concepts of the art of indexing and mapping or querying sequences. We end the chapter with the more prospective issue of building models of repeat families. We present the Machine Learning approach first, seeking to build predictors automatically for some families of ET, from a set of sequences known to belong to this family. A second approach, the linguistic (or syntactic) approach, allows biologists to describe themselves and check the validity of models of their favorite repeat family.
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11
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Blasio F, Prieto P, Pradillo M, Naranjo T. Genomic and Meiotic Changes Accompanying Polyploidization. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:125. [PMID: 35009128 PMCID: PMC8747196 DOI: 10.3390/plants11010125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Hybridization and polyploidy have been considered as significant evolutionary forces in adaptation and speciation, especially among plants. Interspecific gene flow generates novel genetic variants adaptable to different environments, but it is also a gene introgression mechanism in crops to increase their agronomical yield. An estimate of 9% of interspecific hybridization has been reported although the frequency varies among taxa. Homoploid hybrid speciation is rare compared to allopolyploidy. Chromosome doubling after hybridization is the result of cellular defects produced mainly during meiosis. Unreduced gametes, which are formed at an average frequency of 2.52% across species, are the result of altered spindle organization or orientation, disturbed kinetochore functioning, abnormal cytokinesis, or loss of any meiotic division. Meiotic changes and their genetic basis, leading to the cytological diploidization of allopolyploids, are just beginning to be understood especially in wheat. However, the nature and mode of action of homoeologous recombination suppressor genes are poorly understood in other allopolyploids. The merger of two independent genomes causes a deep modification of their architecture, gene expression, and molecular interactions leading to the phenotype. We provide an overview of genomic changes and transcriptomic modifications that particularly occur at the early stages of allopolyploid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Blasio
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Pilar Prieto
- Plant Breeding Department, Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Alameda del Obispo s/n, Apartado 4048, 14080 Cordova, Spain;
| | - Mónica Pradillo
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Tomás Naranjo
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.B.); (M.P.)
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12
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Gall-Duncan T, Sato N, Yuen RKC, Pearson CE. Advancing genomic technologies and clinical awareness accelerates discovery of disease-associated tandem repeat sequences. Genome Res 2022; 32:1-27. [PMID: 34965938 PMCID: PMC8744678 DOI: 10.1101/gr.269530.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Expansions of gene-specific DNA tandem repeats (TRs), first described in 1991 as a disease-causing mutation in humans, are now known to cause >60 phenotypes, not just disease, and not only in humans. TRs are a common form of genetic variation with biological consequences, observed, so far, in humans, dogs, plants, oysters, and yeast. Repeat diseases show atypical clinical features, genetic anticipation, and multiple and partially penetrant phenotypes among family members. Discovery of disease-causing repeat expansion loci accelerated through technological advances in DNA sequencing and computational analyses. Between 2019 and 2021, 17 new disease-causing TR expansions were reported, totaling 63 TR loci (>69 diseases), with a likelihood of more discoveries, and in more organisms. Recent and historical lessons reveal that properly assessed clinical presentations, coupled with genetic and biological awareness, can guide discovery of disease-causing unstable TRs. We highlight critical but underrecognized aspects of TR mutations. Repeat motifs may not be present in current reference genomes but will be in forthcoming gapless long-read references. Repeat motif size can be a single nucleotide to kilobases/unit. At a given locus, repeat motif sequence purity can vary with consequence. Pathogenic repeats can be "insertions" within nonpathogenic TRs. Expansions, contractions, and somatic length variations of TRs can have clinical/biological consequences. TR instabilities occur in humans and other organisms. TRs can be epigenetically modified and/or chromosomal fragile sites. We discuss the expanding field of disease-associated TR instabilities, highlighting prospects, clinical and genetic clues, tools, and challenges for further discoveries of disease-causing TR instabilities and understanding their biological and pathological impacts-a vista that is about to expand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terence Gall-Duncan
- Program of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Nozomu Sato
- Program of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Ryan K C Yuen
- Program of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Christopher E Pearson
- Program of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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13
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Malik I, Kelley CP, Wang ET, Todd PK. Molecular mechanisms underlying nucleotide repeat expansion disorders. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2021; 22:589-607. [PMID: 34140671 PMCID: PMC9612635 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00382-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The human genome contains over one million short tandem repeats. Expansion of a subset of these repeat tracts underlies over fifty human disorders, including common genetic causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (C9orf72), polyglutamine-associated ataxias and Huntington disease, myotonic dystrophy, and intellectual disability disorders such as Fragile X syndrome. In this Review, we discuss the four major mechanisms by which expansion of short tandem repeats causes disease: loss of function through transcription repression, RNA-mediated gain of function through gelation and sequestration of RNA-binding proteins, gain of function of canonically translated repeat-harbouring proteins, and repeat-associated non-AUG translation of toxic repeat peptides. Somatic repeat instability amplifies these mechanisms and influences both disease age of onset and tissue specificity of pathogenic features. We focus on the crosstalk between these disease mechanisms, and argue that they often synergize to drive pathogenesis. We also discuss the emerging native functions of repeat elements and how their dynamics might contribute to disease at a larger scale than currently appreciated. Lastly, we propose that lynchpins tying these disease mechanisms and native functions together offer promising therapeutic targets with potential shared applications across this class of human disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indranil Malik
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Chase P Kelley
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Eric T Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Peter K Todd
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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14
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Herbert A. The Simple Biology of Flipons and Condensates Enhances the Evolution of Complexity. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26164881. [PMID: 34443469 PMCID: PMC8400190 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The classical genetic code maps nucleotide triplets to amino acids. The associated sequence composition is complex, representing many elaborations during evolution of form and function. Other genomic elements code for the expression and processing of RNA transcripts. However, over 50% of the human genome consists of widely dispersed repetitive sequences. Among these are simple sequence repeats (SSRs), representing a class of flipons, that under physiological conditions, form alternative nucleic acid conformations such as Z-DNA, G4 quartets, I-motifs, and triplexes. Proteins that bind in a structure-specific manner enable the seeding of condensates with the potential to regulate a wide range of biological processes. SSRs also encode the low complexity peptide repeats to patch condensates together, increasing the number of combinations possible. In situations where SSRs are transcribed, SSR-specific, single-stranded binding proteins may further impact condensate formation. Jointly, flipons and patches speed evolution by enhancing the functionality of condensates. Here, the focus is on the selection of SSR flipons and peptide patches that solve for survival under a wide range of environmental contexts, generating complexity with simple parts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Herbert
- Unit 3412, Discovery, InsideOutBio 42 8th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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15
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Chintalaphani SR, Pineda SS, Deveson IW, Kumar KR. An update on the neurological short tandem repeat expansion disorders and the emergence of long-read sequencing diagnostics. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:98. [PMID: 34034831 PMCID: PMC8145836 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01201-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short tandem repeat (STR) expansion disorders are an important cause of human neurological disease. They have an established role in more than 40 different phenotypes including the myotonic dystrophies, Fragile X syndrome, Huntington's disease, the hereditary cerebellar ataxias, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. MAIN BODY STR expansions are difficult to detect and may explain unsolved diseases, as highlighted by recent findings including: the discovery of a biallelic intronic 'AAGGG' repeat in RFC1 as the cause of cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS); and the finding of 'CGG' repeat expansions in NOTCH2NLC as the cause of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease and a range of clinical phenotypes. However, established laboratory techniques for diagnosis of repeat expansions (repeat-primed PCR and Southern blot) are cumbersome, low-throughput and poorly suited to parallel analysis of multiple gene regions. While next generation sequencing (NGS) has been increasingly used, established short-read NGS platforms (e.g., Illumina) are unable to genotype large and/or complex repeat expansions. Long-read sequencing platforms recently developed by Oxford Nanopore Technology and Pacific Biosciences promise to overcome these limitations to deliver enhanced diagnosis of repeat expansion disorders in a rapid and cost-effective fashion. CONCLUSION We anticipate that long-read sequencing will rapidly transform the detection of short tandem repeat expansion disorders for both clinical diagnosis and gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjog R. Chintalaphani
- School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052 Australia
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 Australia
| | - Sandy S. Pineda
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 Australia
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050 Australia
| | - Ira W. Deveson
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent’s Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2010 Australia
| | - Kishore R. Kumar
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 Australia
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory and Neurology Department, Central Clinical School, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, University of Sydney, Concord, NSW 2137 Australia
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16
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Herbert A. Simple Repeats as Building Blocks for Genetic Computers. Trends Genet 2020; 36:739-750. [PMID: 32690316 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Processing of RNA involves heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins. The simple sequence repeats (SSRs) they bind can also adopt alternative DNA structures, like Z DNA, triplexes, G quadruplexes, and I motifs. Those SSRs capable of switching conformation under physiological conditions (called flipons) are genetic elements that can encode alternative RNA processing by their effects on RNA processivity, most likely as DNA:RNA hybrids. Flipons are elements of a binary, instructive genetic code directing how genomic sequences are compiled into transcripts. The combinatorial nature of this code provides a rich set of options for creating genetic computers able to reproduce themselves and use a heritable and evolvable code to optimize survival. The underlying computational logic potentiates a diverse set of genetic programs that modify cis-mediated heritability and disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Herbert
- Discovery, InsideOutBio, 42 8th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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17
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Poeta L, Drongitis D, Verrillo L, Miano MG. DNA Hypermethylation and Unstable Repeat Diseases: A Paradigm of Transcriptional Silencing to Decipher the Basis of Pathogenic Mechanisms. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E684. [PMID: 32580525 PMCID: PMC7348995 DOI: 10.3390/genes11060684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Unstable repeat disorders comprise a variable group of incurable human neurological and neuromuscular diseases caused by an increase in the copy number of tandem repeats located in various regions of their resident genes. It has become clear that dense DNA methylation in hyperexpanded non-coding repeats induces transcriptional silencing and, subsequently, insufficient protein synthesis. However, the ramifications of this paradigm reveal a far more profound role in disease pathogenesis. This review will summarize the significant progress made in a subset of non-coding repeat diseases demonstrating the role of dense landscapes of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) as a common disease modifier. However, the emerging findings suggest context-dependent models of 5mC-mediated silencing with distinct effects of excessive DNA methylation. An in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this peculiar group of human diseases constitutes a prerequisite that could help to discover novel pathogenic repeat loci, as well as to determine potential therapeutic targets. In this regard, we report on a brief description of advanced strategies in DNA methylation profiling for the identification of unstable Guanine-Cytosine (GC)-rich regions and on promising examples of molecular targeted therapies for Fragile X disease (FXS) and Friedrich ataxia (FRDA) that could pave the way for the application of this technique in other hypermethylated expansion disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Poeta
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso”, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; (L.P.); (D.D.); (L.V.)
| | - Denise Drongitis
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso”, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; (L.P.); (D.D.); (L.V.)
| | - Lucia Verrillo
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso”, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; (L.P.); (D.D.); (L.V.)
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Maria Giuseppina Miano
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso”, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy; (L.P.); (D.D.); (L.V.)
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