The Myotonic Dystrophy Deep Sequencing Data Repository

A collaboration to comprehensively survey the myotonic dystrophy transcriptome

About

Myotonic dystrophy (dystrophia myotonica, "DM") has been described as "one of the most variable of all human disorders" (Peter Harper). It is a microsatellite repeat expansion disorder, and similar to other repeat expansion diseases, exhibits genetic anticipation. This phenomenon commonly leads to earlier age of onset and more severe symptoms for children who inherit the expansion from affected individuals. Both germ line and somatic instability likely lead to variability in DM symptoms, which include muscle weakness and wasting, myotonia, cardiac arrhythmia, profound fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, and cognitive deficits, among others.

While understanding the molecular basis for such a variable disease is challenging, the scientific community has successfully identified several disease mechanisms that clearly play a role in DM. Gene expression and RNA processing are perturbed in DM, and both processes can be better understood through the study of transcriptomes from human samples and animal models. With the help and support of generous collaborators, and most importantly, patients who have donated precious biological material, we are able to provide here transcriptome data from DM biopsies, autopsies, and animal models. We hope that this repository and its associated tools will be a valuable resource for the scientific community, so as to accelerate the path towards basic understanding and treatment of DM and related diseases.

Contributors

This project was supported by NIH ARRA grant 5RC2HG005624-02, awarded to principal investigators Christopher Burge, David Housman, and Thomas Cooper. It would not have been possible without the generous contributions of numerous collaborators.

Christopher Burge, MIT
Eric Wang
Daniel Treacy

Overall study coordination, preparation of deep sequencing libraries, data analysis, website development

David Housman, MIT
Thomas Wang

Study coordination, RNA isolation from tissue

Tom Cooper, Baylor College of Medicine
Amanda Ward

Study coordination, tissue from mouse models of DM and human autopsies

Charles Thornton, University of Rochester
Kirti Bhatt

Human biopsy RNA

David Brook, University of Nottingham
Saam Sedehizadeh

Human biopsy tissue

John Day, Stanford & University of Minnesota
Joline Dalton
Kenji Takamura

Human autopsy tissue


J. Andrew Berglund, University of Oregon
Adam Struck

Data analysis, website development

Genome Browser

This genome browser is powered by the WashU Epigenome Browser. Raw read density across the genome can be loaded as "Public tracks". To view human data, select "hg19". To view mouse data, select "mm9". Additional transcriptomes from related studies are also included as "Public tracks". While you can load your own "custom tracks", contact us to request specific sets of tracks loadable as "data hubs".

Isoform Expression

Gene expression values, and isoform expression as estimated by MISO, can be viewed here. Search for specific genes, and generate bar plots and sashimi plots.

Raw Data and Methods

Alignment (BAM), bedgraph, MISO output, and other data files may be downloaded here.

Contact

Please don't hesitate to submit your questions and comments. Your feedback is appreciated.