Covering all your bases: incorporating intron signal from RNA-seq data.

ABSTRACT: RNA-seq datasets can contain millions of intron reads per library that are typically removed from downstream analysis. Only reads overlapping annotated exons are considered to be informative since mature mRNA is assumed to be the major component sequenced, especially for poly(A) RNA libraries. In this study, we show that intron reads are informative, and through exploratory data analysis of read coverage that intron signal is representative of both pre-mRNAs and intron retention. We demonstrate how intron reads can be utilized in differential expression analysis using our index method where a unique set of differentially expressed genes can be detected using intron counts. In exploring read coverage, we also developed the superintronic software that quickly and robustly calcu

SUBMITTER: Lee S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7671406 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature