A framework to interpret short tandem repeat variation in humans

Identifying regions of the genome that are depleted of mutations can reveal potentially deleterious variants. Short tandem repeats (STRs), comprised of repeating motifs of 1-6bp, are among the largest contributors of de novo mutations in humans and are implicated in a variety of human disorders. However, because of the challenges STRs pose to bioinformatics tools, studies of STR mutations have been limited to highly ascertained panels of several dozen loci. Here, we harnessed novel bioinformatics tools and an analytical framework to estimate mutation parameters at each STR in the human genome. We then developed a model of the STR mutation process that allows us to obtain accurate estimates of mutation parameters at each STR by correlating genotypes with local sequence heterozygosity. Finally, we applied our method to obtain robust estimates of the impact of local sequence features on mutation parameters and used this to create a framework for measuring constraint at STRs by comparing observed vs. expected mutation rates. Constraint scores identified known pathogenic variants with early onset effects. Our constraint metrics will provide a valuable tool for prioritizing pathogenic STRs in medical genetics studies.