TSniffer: unbiased de novo identification of RNA editing sites and quantification of editing activity in RNA-seq data

Abstract RNA editing by adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) is an essential cellular process performed by three enzymes in mammals: ADAR1-p150, ADAR1-p110, and ADAR2, demonstrating different target specificity and selectivity. Here we describe TSniffer, a novel tool to analyze RNA editing in RNA-sequencing datasets. TSniffer uses a rolling window approach to identify editing sites and operates in two modes allowing identification and quantification in single samples, and quantification in predefined regions across multiple datasets. Using wild type and ADAR-deficient datasets, we provide strategies for identification of ADAR editing sites and verify the accuracy and biological relevance of our findings.