Quantum mechanical electronic and geometric parameters for DNA k-mers as features for machine learning.

Journal: Scientific data
PMID:

Abstract

We are witnessing a steep increase in model development initiatives in genomics that employ high-end machine learning methodologies. Of particular interest are models that predict certain genomic characteristics based solely on DNA sequence. These models, however, treat the DNA as a mere collection of four, A, T, G and C, letters, dismissing the past advancements in science that can enable the use of more intricate information from nucleic acid sequences. Here, we provide a comprehensive database of quantum mechanical (QM) and geometric features for all the permutations of 7-meric DNA in their representative B, A and Z conformations. The database is generated by employing the applicable high-cost and time-consuming QM methodologies. This can thus make it seamless to associate a wealth of novel molecular features to any DNA sequence, by scanning it with a matching k-meric window and pulling the pre-computed values from our database for further use in modelling. We demonstrate the usefulness of our deposited features through their exclusive use in developing a model for A->C mutation rates.

Authors

  • Kairi Masuda
    MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
  • Adib A Abdullah
    MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
  • Patrick Pflughaupt
    MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
  • Aleksandr B Sahakyan
    Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.