KATMAP infers splicing factor activity and regulatory targets from knockdown data

Scientists have developed KATMAP, a sophisticated biophysical model that can infer splicing factor activity and identify regulatory targets using data from gene knockdown or overexpression experiments. This breakthrough tool provides researchers with unprecedented insights into the complex mechanisms of alternative splicing, a critical process in gene regulation. Alternative splicing allows a single gene to produce multiple protein variants, greatly expanding the functional diversity of the proteome. Dysregulation of splicing has been implicated in numerous diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding the activity and targets of splicing factors is therefore crucial for developing targeted therapeutic approaches. Michael P. McGurk, David C. McWatters, and Christopher B. Burge from the research team explain how KATMAP represents a significant advancement over existing methods, offering higher accuracy and more comprehensive predictions of splicing factor function. The open-access article was published in Nature Biotechnology on November 4, 2025.