WRN
protein-codingWRN 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
Inheritance
ClinVar variants
Top phenotype
gnomAD constraint
Max pathogenic AF
Genomic locus
External References & Databases
Transcript & Mutation Effects
hg38 • Region Span ~142.4 kbGenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations
Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0010196
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0010196
Submitter: PanelApp Australia
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0010196
Submitter: Ambry Genetics
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0010196
Submitter: G2P
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0010196
Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009807
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
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)
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
ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes
Reported disease conditions connected to WRN variants in ClinVar
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.
| Effect | PathogenicP | Likely pathogenicLP | VUS | Likely benignLB | BenignB | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| synonymous | 1 | 1 | 25 | 674 | 2 | 703 |
| missense | 2 | 11 | 1732 | 55 | 4 | 1804 |
| nonsense | 78 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 119 |
| start loss | 1 | 1 | ||||
| frameshift | 133 | 61 | 8 | 2 | 204 | |
| splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp) | 13 | 100 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 126 |
| Total | 227 | 209 | 1778 | 733 | 10 | 2957 |
Highest pathogenic variant AF is 0.00025472417
Transcript Catalog
Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases
| Transcript ID | Source | Protein ID | Coding Exons | MANE Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RefSeq | NP_000544.2 | 34 | MANE Select | |
| Ensembl | ENSP00000298139.5 | 34 | MANE Select | |
| Ensembl | ENSP00000498593.1 | 3 | Standard | |
| Ensembl | ENSP00000498779.1 | 4 | Standard |
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:
- 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-Score | Observed | Expected | Observed/Expected | Mutation Rate | Total Possible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missense | -0.221 | 767 | 750 | 1.02 | 0.0000384 | 9508 |
| Missense (PolyPhen) | 241 | 254.43 | 0.94723 | 3338 | ||
| Synonymous | -0.0363 | 263 | 262 | 1.00 | 0.0000142 | 2549 |
| Loss of Function | 1.96 | 63 | 82.2 | 0.767 | 0.00000426 | 1007 |
Population LoF Frequency
| Population | CAF | p-value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| African | 0.00043 | 0.00043 | rare |
| Latino/Admixed American | 0.00061 | 0.00061 | rare |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 0.00030 | 0.00030 | rare |
| East Asian | 0.0015 | 0.0015 | notable |
| Finnish | 0.00014 | 0.00014 | rare |
| European (Non-Finnish) | 0.00047 | 0.00047 | rare |
| South Asian | 0.00072 | 0.00072 | rare |
| Other | 0.00033 | 0.00033 | rare |
dbNSFP Gene Annotations
Source:
- 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
| All | Recessive | Dominant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mendelian | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Primary Immunodeficiency | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Cancer | Medium | Medium | Medium |