Skip to content
PaperFren

Gene expression

Do SNPs prove exonic splicing enhancers are real?

Fairbrother WG, Holste D, Burge CB, et al. · PLoS biology · 2004

Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC

Human polymorphism patterns validate computationally predicted ESEs and show splicing constrains exon evolution.

Study at a glance

Design
Computational / modelling — Mapped common SNPs onto exons relative to RESCUE-ESE motifs vs simulated mutations
N
Human SNP/ESE comparative genomics — not a sample-N study
Population
Human exonic SNPs and splicing-enhancer motif sets
Outcome
Purifying selection signatures on exonic splicing enhancers

Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.

Key findings

ESE disruption and near-splice positions show signatures consistent with purifying selection; splicing constrains human exon evolution.

Methodology

Mapped common SNPs onto exons relative to RESCUE-ESE motifs and splice-site proximity, comparing natural vs simulated mutations.

Limitations

Does not experimentally assay every predicted hexamer in every tissue.

How this study connects

Role on claims

Each row is a claim on a concept or method page where this paper supports, challenges, or qualifies the statement. Roles are hand-checked — not a model guess.

  • SupportsGene expressionconcept

    Multiple empirical papers in this library examine gene expression with mechanistic biological findings.

    Evidence for the claim as stated.

  • SupportsGene expressionconcept

    ESE disruption and near-splice positions show signatures consistent with purifying selection; splicing constrains human exon evolution.

    Evidence for the claim as stated.

  • SupportsGene expressionconcept

    Systems and scales differ across gene expression studies (species, tissues, methods), so mechanisms should not be over-generalised.

    Evidence for the claim as stated.

Open questions

Tensions this paper is part of

From concept pages' “where studies disagree.” Disagreement means the same question; scope means different assays, populations, or outcomes.

Related papers in this topic

Same topic cluster — not a recommendation engine.