An integrated, scaled approach to resolve TSC2 variants of uncertain significance

Abstract

Obtaining a precise genetic tuberous sclerosis diagnosis is a challenge as many missense TSC2 variants are variants of uncertain significance (VUS). VUS in TSC2 have been resolved by one-at-a-time functional assays, but these assays cannot scale to the 3,634 TSC2 missense VUS observed so far. To address this challenge, we used massively parallel sequencing to measure the steady-state abundance of almost 9,000 TSC2 missense variants and developed an mTOR pathway activity assay using genome editing and cell sorting to generate activity scores for 391 missense variants. 1,288 of 8,891 (14.49%) missense variants assayed had altered TSC2 abundance, and 69 of 391 (17.65%) missense variants assayed had altered mTOR pathway activity. Calibration and integration of these data into classification of variants identified in a clinical cohort putatively reclassified 212 of 276 (76.8%) TSC2 missense VUS. These datasets will lead to improved genetic diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis with potential positive impacts on the clinical management of patients and their families.