WRN

protein-coding

WRN RecQ like helicase, the group of RecQ like helicases|Exonucleases

Gene summary

This gene encodes a member of the RecQ subfamily of DNA helicase proteins. The encoded nuclear protein is important in the maintenance of genome stability and plays a role in DNA repair, replication, transcription and telomere maintenance. This protein contains a N-terminal 3' to 5' exonuclease domain, an ATP-dependent helicase domain and RQC (RecQ helicase conserved region) domain in its central region, and a C-terminal HRDC (helicase RNase D C-terminal) domain and nuclear localization signal. Defects in this gene are the cause of Werner syndrome, an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by accelerated aging and an elevated risk for certain cancers. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2017]

MANE transcript

NM_000553.6

Inheritance

AR

ClinVar variants

P:436U:1778B:743

Top phenotype

Werner syndrome

gnomAD constraint

pLI —, LoF o/e 0.77

Max pathogenic AF

—

Genomic locus

chr8:31,033,788-31,176,138

External References & Databases

Transcript & Mutation Effects

hg38 • Region Span ~142.4 kb
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GenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations

Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns

Werner syndromeSUPPORTIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0010196

Submitter: Orphanet

Werner syndromeSTRONG

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0010196

Submitter: PanelApp Australia

Werner syndromeDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0010196

Submitter: Ambry Genetics

Werner syndromeDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0010196

Submitter: G2P

Werner syndromeSTRONG

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0010196

Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)

osteosarcomaMODERATE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0009807

Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp

Werner syndromeDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: AR

Disease ID:MONDO:0010196

Submitter: ClinGen

There is abundant evidence published associating the WRN gene with Werner Syndrome since the gene-disease relationship was first proposed by Yu et al. (1996). Multiple case level studies have been performed with WS patients that have variants in the WRN gene. There are currently 85 different mutations recorded in Werner Syndrome Mutational Database. BLM and RECQL4, another two RecQ DNA helicases, are associated with Bloom and Rothmund–Thomson syndromes. All three are disorders of chromosomal instability and manifest growth retardation, and predisposition to malignancies. Fibroblasts from individuals with Werner Syndrome have accelerated telomere attrition and undergo premature senescence that can be rescued by enforced expression of Tert. Multiple WRN deficient mouse models have been established to show consistent phenotypes with WS patients, including premature death, hair graying, alopecia, osteoporosis, type II diabetes and cataracts. All of these types of evidence are consistent with a definitive relationship between the WRN gene and Werner Syndrome (WS).

Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)

Werner syndromeAR

Manifestation: Cardiovascular; Craniofacial; Dermatologic; Endocrine; Gastrointestinal; Musculoskeletal; Obstetric; Oncologic; Ophthalmologic

Intervention: Cardiovascular; Endocrine; Obstetric; Oncologic

Rationale: Individuals typically have insulin resistance, as well as increased risk of atherosclerosis and malignancy (eg, melanomas, osteosarcomas, sarcomas, and thyroid carcinoma) and and awareness may allow preventive measures related to the risk of atherosclerosis, as well as early diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and malignancy, which may reduce morbidity and mortality; Awareness and interventions related to endocrine complications (eg, metformin treatment for insulin resistance) as well as the potential for obstetric sequelae (eg, cervical incompetence) may be beneficial in the management of reproductive health

Refs: 14042963; 7460386; 8722214; 8968742; 8602509; 9048918; 9253306; 9012406; 10220139; 16786514; 17476199; 18205852; 20301687; 20443122; 22654791; 23524889; 23552003; 23849162; 23936869Source: CGD (NHGRI)

ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes

Reported disease conditions connected to WRN variants in ClinVar

17 Conditions Cataloged
Werner syndromeTotal: 3632
not providedTotal: 230
Inborn genetic diseasesTotal: 149
not specifiedTotal: 77
WRN-related disorderTotal: 60
Wiskott-Aldrich syndromeTotal: 18
Ovarian cancerTotal: 13
CataractTotal: 1

ClinVar Variants & Pathogenicity by Type

Statistics based on transcript NM_000553.6. Only rare variants are included.

We include only reliable ClinVar variants with their consequences to MANE Select, MANE Plus Clinical transcripts, or transcripts with TSL equal to 1. Click a count to filter the variants table below.

Slight differences between displayed counts and ClinVar may occur due to a different transcript/consequence chosen by our variant effect predictor, or because we classify Benign/Likely benign as Likely benign and Pathogenic/Likely pathogenic as Likely pathogenic.

EffectPLPVUSLBBSum
synonymous
1
clinvar
1
clinvar
25
clinvar
674
clinvar
2
clinvar
703
missense
2
clinvar
11
clinvar
1732
clinvar
55
clinvar
4
clinvar
1804
nonsense
78
clinvar
36
clinvar
3
clinvar
1
clinvar
1
clinvar
119
start loss
1
clinvar
1
frameshift
133
clinvar
61
clinvar
8
clinvar
2
clinvar
204
splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp)
13
clinvar
100
clinvar
9
clinvar
1
clinvar
3
clinvar
126
Total2272091778733102957

Highest pathogenic variant AF is 0.00025472417

Loading ClinVar variants...

Transcript Catalog

Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases

Showing 4 of 29 transcripts
Transcript IDSourceProtein IDCoding ExonsMANE Status
NM_000553.6RefSeqNP_000544.234MANE Select
ENST00000298139.7EnsemblENSP00000298139.534MANE Select
ENST00000650667.1EnsemblENSP00000498593.13Standard
ENST00000651642.1EnsemblENSP00000498779.14Standard

Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations & Pathways

Biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and pathways

Pathways ConsensusPathDB

  • HDR through Single Strand Annealing (SSA)
  • HDR through Homologous Recombination (HR) or Single Strand Annealing (SSA)
  • DNA Repair
  • Gene expression (Transcription)
  • DNA Double-Strand Break Repair

Biological Process

  • telomere maintenance
  • double-strand break repair via homologous recombination
  • DNA synthesis involved in DNA repair
  • replicative cell aging
  • DNA metabolic process

Molecular Function

  • magnesium ion binding
  • four-way junction DNA binding
  • Y-form DNA binding
  • bubble DNA binding
  • DNA binding

Cellular Component

  • chromosome, telomeric region
  • nucleus
  • nucleoplasm
  • replication fork
  • DNA replication factor A complex

gnomAD Constraint

Source: gnomAD

Gene type
protein_coding
Transcript type
protein_coding
Transcript
ENST00000298139
Coding exons
34
Length
139969
Individuals with no LoFs
125609
Homozygous LoFs
0
Heterozygous LoFs
139
Defined
125748
p
0.000553
Z-ScoreObservedExpectedObserved/ExpectedMutation RateTotal Possible
Missense-0.2217677501.020.00003849508
Missense (PolyPhen)241254.430.947233338
Synonymous-0.03632632621.000.00001422549
Loss of Function1.966382.20.7670.000004261007

Population LoF Frequency

PopulationCAFp-valueStatus
African0.000430.00043rare
Latino/Admixed American0.000610.00061rare
Ashkenazi Jewish0.000300.00030rare
East Asian0.00150.0015notable
Finnish0.000140.00014rare
European (Non-Finnish)0.000470.00047rare
South Asian0.000720.00072rare
Other0.000330.00033rare

dbNSFP Gene Annotations

Source: dbNSFP

Function
FUNCTION: Multifunctional enzyme that has both magnesium and ATP- dependent DNA-helicase activity and 3'->5' exonuclease activity towards double-stranded DNA with a 5'-overhang. Has no nuclease activity towards single-stranded DNA or blunt-ended double- stranded DNA. Binds preferentially to DNA substrates containing alternate secondary structures, such as replication forks and Holliday junctions. May play an important role in the dissociation of joint DNA molecules that can arise as products of homologous recombination, at stalled replication forks or during DNA repair. Alleviates stalling of DNA polymerases at the site of DNA lesions. Important for genomic integrity. Plays a role in the formation of DNA replication focal centers; stably associates with foci elements generating binding sites for RP-A (By similarity). Plays a role in double-strand break repair after gamma-irradiation. {ECO:0000250, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11863428, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17563354, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18596042, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19283071, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19652551, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21639834}.;
Disease
DISEASE: Werner syndrome (WRN) [MIM:277700]: A rare autosomal recessive progeroid syndrome characterized by the premature onset of multiple age-related disorders, including atherosclerosis, cancer, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, ocular cataracts and osteoporosis. The major cause of death, at a median age of 47, is myocardial infarction. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:16673358}. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.; DISEASE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) [MIM:114500]: A complex disease characterized by malignant lesions arising from the inner wall of the large intestine (the colon) and the rectum. Genetic alterations are often associated with progression from premalignant lesion (adenoma) to invasive adenocarcinoma. Risk factors for cancer of the colon and rectum include colon polyps, long-standing ulcerative colitis, and genetic family history. {ECO:0000305|PubMed:24308539, ECO:0000305|PubMed:9989816}. Note=The disease may be caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.;

Recessive Scores

pRec
0.523

Intolerance Scores

LoFtool
0.988
RVIS EVS
0.68
RVIS percentile EVS
84.95

Essentials

Essential (CRISPR)
N
Essential (CRISPR2)
S
Essential (gene trap)
N
Indispensability pred.
N
Indispensability score
0.0720

Gene Damage Prediction

AllRecessiveDominant
MendelianMediumMediumMedium
Primary ImmunodeficiencyMediumMediumMedium
CancerMediumMediumMedium
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