DNA sequences and multivariate statistical analysis. Categorical discrimination approach to 5' splice site signals of mRNA precursors in higher eukaryotes' genes.

The signals which direct excision of introns from mRNA precursors in higher eukaryotes' genes are not well understood. Although a consensus sequence, CAAG/GTAGAGT, has been proposed with the 5' splice site, actual 5' splice site sequences differ from it to a greater or lesser degree. In order to study such a signal more quantitatively, nucleotide sequences were transformed into categorical data, and multivariate statistical analysis was applied to such a system. Categorical weights on the variables were estimated in such a way that the two classes of 5' splice site sequences and sequences other than 5' splice site might be discriminated most distinctly. The 5' splice site signals were then characterized in terms of those statistical results.