TitleGenome-wide prediction and functional characterization of the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorder.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsKrishnan, A, Zhang, R, Yao, V, Theesfeld, CL, Wong, AK, Tadych, A, Volfovsky, N, Packer, A, Lash, A, Troyanskaya, OG
JournalNat Neurosci
Volume19
Issue11
Pagination1454-1462
Date Published2016 Nov
ISSN1546-1726
KeywordsAutism Spectrum Disorder, DNA Copy Number Variations, Gene Regulatory Networks, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic basis. Yet, only a small fraction of potentially causal genes-about 65 genes out of an estimated several hundred-are known with strong genetic evidence from sequencing studies. We developed a complementary machine-learning approach based on a human brain-specific gene network to present a genome-wide prediction of autism risk genes, including hundreds of candidates for which there is minimal or no prior genetic evidence. Our approach was validated in a large independent case-control sequencing study. Leveraging these genome-wide predictions and the brain-specific network, we demonstrated that the large set of ASD genes converges on a smaller number of key pathways and developmental stages of the brain. Finally, we identified likely pathogenic genes within frequent autism-associated copy-number variants and proposed genes and pathways that are likely mediators of ASD across multiple copy-number variants. All predictions and functional insights are available at http://asd.princeton.edu.

DOI10.1038/nn.4353
Alternate JournalNat. Neurosci.
PubMed ID27479844
Grant ListP50 GM071508 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM071966 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 HG005998 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
T32 HG003284 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States