In a recent publication, scientists from the University of California, Davis, and PacBio reported results from an investigation of alternative splicing associated with a repeat expansion in the gene linked to fragile X syndrome. They used SMRT Sequencing to detect full-length isoforms (Iso-Seq analysis) associated with individuals at risk of FXTAS, an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder. “Altered expression of the FMR1 splicing variants landscape in premutation carriers” comes from lead author Elizabeth Tseng, senior author Flora Tassone, and collaborators. Previous studies from the Tassone lab had used SMRT Sequencing to detect full-length isoforms in samples from premutation carriers (individuals with more…
Today is International Ataxia Awareness Day (IAAD), and we’re proud to be participating in this worthy cause. Ataxia is a group of rare, degenerative neurological diseases with a number of different presentations; many involve muscle tremors, loss of motor skills, and difficulty walking. As many as 150,000 people in the United States have some form of ataxia. Because there are so many different types of ataxia, one of the most important early steps for those affected is getting an accurate diagnosis. There are several hereditary ataxias, and genetic testing is increasingly useful for pinpointing the exact type affecting a patient.…
A compelling new paper from scientists at the Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and several other organizations demonstrates the importance of fully sequencing repeat expansion regions for a clearer understanding of the underlying biology of the diseases they cause. This publication also offers a look at how CRISPR/Cas9 capture can be used in combination with SMRT Sequencing to access the expanded repetitive region at a base level resolution without any PCR bias. “Parkinson’s disease associated with pure ATXN10 repeat expansion” comes from lead authors Birgitt Schüle and Karen McFarland, senior author Tetsuo Ashizawa, and collaborators. The…