TDP-43 represses cryptic exon inclusion in FTD/ALS gene UNC13A

Through splicing analysis of a publicly available RNA-Seq dataset, we discovered TDP-43 represses a cryptic exon splicing event in UNC13A, a gene that had been associated with FTD/ALS through GWA studies. To confirm the sequences of the cryptic exons, we used shRNA to reduce TDP-43 levels in iPSC-derived motor neurons (iPSC-MNs) and by amplicon sequencing the RT-PCR product, we observed the insertion in cells with TDP-43 depletion but not in control shRNA-treated cells. Through sequence alignment, we verified the sequences of the cryptic exons. Overall design: iPSC-derived motor neurons incubated fwith lentivirus particles for shScramble or shTDP-43.