In silico analysis on frequency and distribution of microsatellites in genes associated with spinal cord astrocytoma

Abstract

Microsatellites, also called short tandem repeats (STRs) or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are short DNA sequence segments consisting of tandemly repeated motifs. SSRs are regarded as one of the most effective tools for genetic research. In this study, we conducted an in silico analysis to investigate the presence, distribution, and characteristics of SSRs within the genes associated with spinal cord astrocytoma. The aim of this study was to identify SSRs in coding and non-coding regions, analyze their correlation with gene parameters, and determine the GC content in the gene sequences. The results revealed that the widespread presence of SSRs within the genes is associated with spinal cord astrocytoma (SCA). The distribution of SSR motifs varied among the analyzed genes, and certain motifs were common across multiple genes. Additionally, we observed a strong positive correlation between the total number of SSRs and gene size, indicating that larger genes tend to have a higher number of microsatellites. Furthermore, we identified SSRs in both coding and non-coding regions of the genes. The incidence of SSRs and cSSRs differed among genes, suggesting potential functional implications for gene expression and regulation. Our study provides valuable insights into the genetic diversity within the astrocytoma genes and highlights the potential significance of SSRs in gene regulation. In conclusion, this study contributes to a better understanding of the role of microsatellites within the genes associated with spinal cord astrocytoma. The observed patterns of SSR distribution and characteristics suggest their potential functional relevance in the development and progression of astrocytoma.