Annotate CLIP-seq peaks or crosslink sites to RNA features (5'UTR, CDS, 3'UTR, intron, splice junction, snoRNA, tRNA, ncRNA, repeat elements) with ChIPseeker, RCAS, RBP-Maps (Yeo splicing regulatory maps), and bedtools, applying feature-priority hierarchies, transcript-context resolution, and metagene aggregation. Use when characterizing where in transcripts an RBP binds, comparing peak distribution across regions, generating splicing-regulatory maps relative to alternative-splicing events, or distinguishing exonic vs intronic vs UTR binding.
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Annotate CLIP-seq peaks or crosslink sites to RNA features (5'UTR, CDS, 3'UTR, intron, splice junction, snoRNA, tRNA, ncRNA, repeat elements) with ChIPseeker, RCAS, RBP-Maps (Yeo splicing regulatory maps), and bedtools, applying feature-priority hierarchies, transcript-context resolution, and metagene aggregation. Use when characterizing where in transcripts an RBP binds, comparing peak distribution across regions, generating splicing-regulatory maps relative to alternative-splicing events, or distinguishing exonic vs intronic vs UTR binding.
Before using code patterns, verify installed versions match. If versions differ:
R: packageVersion('<pkg>') then ?function_name to verify parameters
Python: pip show <package> then help(module.function) to check signatures
CLI: <tool> --version then <tool> --help to confirm flags
If code throws unexpected errors, introspect the installed package and adapt the example to match the actual API rather than retrying. ChIPseeker 1.40+ changed the priority defaults; verify the priority vector before pipelining.
Binding Site Annotation
"Annotate where in transcripts my RBP binds" -> Map CLIP peaks or single-nucleotide crosslink sites to RNA features and report the per-feature distribution. The interpretation is RBP-class-specific: splicing factors (PTBP1, U2AF2, RBFOX) bind intron-exon junctions; mRNA-stability regulators (HuR, PUM2) bind 3' UTRs; translation factors (EIF3J, RPS19) bind 5' UTRs and CDS; and small-ncRNA-binding RBPs (NSUN2 tRNAs, LARP7 7SK, TROVE2 Y-RNAs) bind specific non-coding transcripts. A correct annotation pipeline (a) resolves overlapping features by priority, (b) preserves transcript-isoform context, (c) generates metagene distributions, and (d) flags repeat-element overlap separately.
R (peak-level, fast): ChIPseeker::annotatePeak(peaks, TxDb=txdb, level='gene', tssRegion=c(-100,100)) then plotAnnoPie(anno)
R (transcript-level with RNA-specific regions): RCAS runReport(queryRegions=peaks, gffData=gencode_gtf, genomeVersion='hg38')
R (splicing-regulatory map for splice factors): RBP-Maps (yeolab/rbp-maps) generates the 1400 nt vectorized cassette-exon map used in Yeo lab ENCODE papers
CLI (metagene aggregation): deepTools computeMatrix or RSeQC geneBody_coverage.py for read profiles
The Yeo lab convention for ENCODE eCLIP: ChIPseeker for global region distribution + RBP-Maps for position-resolved splicing context + custom analysis for repeat-element overlap. ChIPseeker alone over-counts intronic binding because TSS-region default extends too far for RNA features.
TSS-region default c(-3000, 3000) over-extends; promoter category meaningless for RNA
RCAS (R)
Peak BED + GFF
Transcript-level
Customizable
HTML report + per-region table
RNA-specific design; ncRNA-aware
Slow; HTML-heavy; less actively maintained
RBP-Maps (Yeo)
eCLIP BAM + alternative splicing event tables
Splice junction-level
NA (positional metagene)
Splicing regulatory map (1400nt vector around cassette exon)
The standard for splicing-factor CLIP analysis
Splicing-only; not for 3' UTR or ncRNA binders
HOMER annotatePeaks.pl
Peak BED
Gene-level
Promoter > UTR > Exon > Intron > Intergenic
Annotation TSV
Familiar from ChIP-seq
Same TSS issue as ChIPseeker; less RNA-aware
bedtools intersect
Peak BED + feature BED
User-defined
User-defined
Per-feature overlap
Most flexible
Manual hierarchy logic must be written
pyranges (Python)
Peak BED + GTF
Customizable
User-defined
DataFrame
Fast, pythonic, scriptable
Hand-written priority logic
pybedtools
Peak BED + GTF
Customizable
User-defined
iterators
Flexible, scripted
Same as pyranges
Peakhood (Uhl 2022)
Peak BED + transcripts
Transcript context
NA
Per-peak transcript context
Resolves transcript-isoform ambiguity
Specialized; not a global region tool
Methodology evolves; verify the GTF source (GENCODE preferred over Ensembl for human; both have feature differences) and the priority hierarchy against published RBP literature.
Critical Choice: Annotation Hierarchy
RNA features are nested and overlapping. A 3' UTR peak is ALSO in an exon; an intronic peak near a splice site is ALSO in a transcribed-but-spliced region. Without a priority hierarchy the same peak gets counted multiple times.
Standard CLIP hierarchy (most-specific first):
3' UTR (specific to mature mRNA biology)
5' UTR
CDS (coding sequence)
Exon (catch-all for non-UTR exonic)
Splice site (within 50 nt of donor/acceptor; key for splicing factors)
Intron
Promoter (within 1 kb of TSS; usually not relevant for RNA-binding)
5' flanking / 3' flanking (within 1 kb of gene)
ncRNA (lncRNA, snoRNA, snRNA, miRNA host)
Repeat element (Alu, LINE, LTR, SINE) - separate axis from above
Intergenic
ChIPseeker's default level='gene' reports the FIRST hit by priority. For CLIP, set level='transcript' and explicitly customize tssRegion=c(-100, 100) (default c(-3000, 3000) is for ChIP).
Why CLIP needs the tight TSS window: ChIPseeker was designed for ChIP-seq where the "Promoter" category captures transcription-factor binding within 3 kb upstream of a gene. For CLIP-seq, the binding substrate is RNA - the RBP cannot bind upstream of the TSS because there is no RNA upstream of the TSS. A 6 kb TSS window catches 5'-UTR peaks and unrelated upstream sequence, mislabeling 30-50% of CLIP peaks as "Promoter (2-3kb)" - implausible for an RNA-binding study. Tightening to c(-100, 100) constrains the "Promoter" category to the mRNA 5' end immediate vicinity and pushes deeper-5'-UTR peaks into the "5UTR" category where they belong.
library(ChIPseeker)
library(TxDb.Hsapiens.UCSC.hg38.knownGene)
txdb <- TxDb.Hsapiens.UCSC.hg38.knownGene
peaks <- readPeakFile('peaks.stringent.bed')# CLIP-appropriate annotation
anno <- annotatePeak(
peaks,
TxDb = txdb,
level ='transcript',# RNA-isoform-aware
tssRegion =c(-100,100),# tight; not a meaningful promoter for RNA binding
genomicAnnotationPriority =c('Promoter','5UTR','3UTR','Exon','Intron','Downstream','Intergenic'))
print(anno)
plotAnnoPie(anno)
plotAnnoBar(anno)
plotDistToTSS(anno)# CLIP-specific: dist to TSS is dist to mRNA 5' end
RBP Class -> Expected Annotation
RBP class
Expected dominant region
RBP examples
Splicing factors
Intron (within 500 nt of splice junction)
PTBP1, U2AF2, RBFOX1/2, SRSF1-9, HNRNPC, MBNL1
3' UTR mRNA stability/decay
3' UTR
HuR (ELAVL1), PUM2, AUF1, ZFP36, TIA1, NUDT21
5' UTR translation regulation
5' UTR, CDS start
EIF4A3, EIF3J, eIF2 subunits, LARP1, PCBP1/2
Ribosome-associated
CDS
RPL/RPS proteins, RACK1
Nuclear export
CDS, 3' UTR
NXF1, ALYREF, SRSF3
m6A reader
3' UTR, stop codon region
YTHDF1/2/3, IGF2BP1/2/3
miRNA effector
3' UTR (seed-matched sites)
AGO1/2/3/4, DICER1, TNRC6A/B/C
snoRNA-targeting RBP
snoRNA, rRNA
DKC1, FBL, NOP56, NHP2
ncRNA-binding
Specific ncRNA target
TROVE2 (Y RNA), LARP7 (7SK), SSB (vault)
Mitochondrial
chrM (mt-mRNA + 12S/16S rRNA)
FASTKD2, LRPPRC, TFAM, MTPAP
Histone mRNA
Histone 3' end stem-loop
SLBP
Repeat-binding (TE)
Alu, LINE-1, LTR, SINE
MATR3, ZFP36, HNRNPK, HNRNPA2B1, FUS (LINE-1)
LCD/IDR / phase separation
Diverse (Alu, intron, 3' UTR)
FUS, TDP-43, EWSR1, TAF15
Mismatch between observed and expected suggests: (a) failed IP (cross-reactive antibody binding wrong RBP), (b) artifact (high-expression contamination), (c) genuinely new biology - investigate.
RBP-Maps: Splicing Regulatory Maps
For splicing factors (PTBP1, U2AF2, RBFOX, SRSF1, etc.), the Yeo lab RBP-Maps tool aggregates eCLIP signal in a 350 nt window flanking the upstream, cassette, and downstream exons, producing a 1400 nt vectorized regulatory map. This map shows the position-dependent enrichment of RBP binding relative to alternative splicing events and is THE standard for splicing-CLIP analysis.
Output: 1400 nt vector with eCLIP signal at every base, plotted as a metagene for cassette inclusion vs exclusion vs constitutive. A peak in the upstream-intron region (right of the cassette exon's 5' splice site) indicates intronic regulation; a peak in the cassette exon body indicates exonic regulation.
Per-Tool Failure Modes
ChIPseeker -- TSS-region default over-extends
Trigger: Used ChIPseeker default tssRegion=c(-3000, 3000) for CLIP peaks.
Mechanism: The 6 kb TSS window catches CLIP peaks deep in the 5' UTR or upstream introns and labels them "Promoter (2-3kb)". For RNA biology, the "promoter" category is meaningless - the RBP cannot bind pre-mRNA upstream of the TSS.
Symptom: 30-50% of peaks labeled "Promoter (2-3kb)" - implausible for an RNA-binding study.
Fix: Set tssRegion=c(-100, 100) or c(-50, 50). Remove the "Promoter" category from the priority vector entirely if it gives 0 hits.
ChIPseeker -- Gene-level loses isoform context
Trigger: Used level='gene' (default) on peaks that should be transcript-specific.
Mechanism: Gene-level annotation picks the canonical/longest transcript and assigns the peak to that transcript's features. A peak in an alternatively-spliced exon may be labeled "intron" because the gene-level reference picks an isoform where the exon is skipped.
Symptom: Splicing factor peaks heavily "intronic" when they should be exonic at alternative-cassette exons.
Fix: Use level='transcript'. Match isoforms to RBP-Maps cassette-exon coordinates for splicing factors.
RCAS -- Slow on large peak sets
Trigger: RCAS report on > 100k peaks.
Mechanism: RCAS generates an HTML report with many plots; rendering is slow.
Symptom: Run time > 1 h; out-of-memory; HTML failing to render.
Fix: Sub-sample peaks to top 10k; or use ChIPseeker for the global view and reserve RCAS for per-region deep dives.
RBP-Maps -- Requires SE event table
Trigger: Splicing-factor CLIP with no companion RNA-seq KD or no SE event BED.
Mechanism: RBP-Maps's regulatory metagene only makes sense relative to cassette exons differentially regulated by the RBP. Without the SE event table, the tool falls back to plotting at all native exons (no differential signal).
Symptom: Flat metagene; no position-dependent enrichment.
Fix: Generate the cassette-exon table from companion RNA-seq KD experiments (rMATS / MAJIQ / LeafCutter; see alternative-splicing skills) OR use a published table from ENCODE shRNA RNA-seq.
bedtools -- Manual hierarchy errors
Trigger: Hand-written bedtools intersect chain for region annotation.
Mechanism: Forgetting to enforce priority leads to double-counting: a 3' UTR peak intersects 3UTR.bed AND exon.bed.
Symptom: Per-region counts sum to > total peak count by 20-50%.
Fix: Process in priority order; remove already-annotated peaks from the remaining set with -v before next intersect. Or use ChIPseeker / RCAS which encode the hierarchy internally.
Repeat-element overlap missed
Trigger: Repeat-binding RBP (MATR3, HNRNPK) annotated without RepeatMasker BED.
Mechanism: Genomic feature BEDs (UTR/CDS/intron) do not flag repeat instances within them. An MATR3 peak in an intronic LINE-1 is labeled "intron" when "LINE-1 within intron" is the biology.
Symptom: Repeat-binding RBP looks like an intronic binder; functional analysis (GO terms) returns generic "RNA processing".
Fix: Pass RepeatMasker BED (UCSC) as a separate axis; annotate each peak with BOTH region AND repeat-class. Cross-check repeat-class fraction against literature: > 15% Alu / LINE / LTR overlap indicates a repeat binder.
Mitochondrial peaks excluded by default
Trigger: Standard TxDb annotation drops chrM transcripts; FASTKD2 / LRPPRC peaks all "intergenic".
Mechanism: Some TxDb objects (older releases) exclude mitochondrial chromosome; ChIPseeker reports those peaks as having no annotation.
Symptom: chrM peaks labeled "Distal Intergenic" or simply missing from the annotation table.
Fix: Verify TxDb includes chrM (genes(txdb, filter=list(tx_chrom='chrM'))); add custom mt-mRNA + mt-rRNA + mt-tRNA BED if missing.
Strand information ignored
Trigger:bedtools intersect -wa -wb without -s flag.
Mechanism: CLIP is strand-specific. Without -s, peaks on one strand can be annotated to features on the other strand - especially for overlapping transcripts (sense/antisense pairs).
Symptom: Antisense transcript peaks contaminate the sense annotation; per-region distribution shifted.
Fix: Always pass -s to bedtools intersect for CLIP. ChIPseeker handles strand automatically when peaks have BED column 6.
Metagene Analysis
Metagene = aggregated profile of CLIP signal at each base of a normalized feature (e.g., 5' UTR, CDS, 3' UTR scaled to common length). Reveals position-dependent binding.
Goal: Generate a position-resolved CLIP-signal profile aggregated across all 3' UTRs (or other features) to identify position-dependent binding modes (e.g., stop-codon-proximal m6A readers, polyA-proximal CPEB).
Approach: Convert dedup BAM to strand-stranded bigWig, then use deepTools computeMatrix scale-regions to align signal across feature instances of variable length, and plotProfile / plotHeatmap for visualization.
Verify GENCODE vs Ensembl GTF; add lincRNA / unannotated transcripts
chrM peaks missing
TxDb excluded chrM
Add custom mt-mRNA BED
Sum of per-region counts > total peaks
Hierarchy not enforced
Use ChIPseeker; or bedtools intersect -v chain
Repeat-binding RBP looks "intronic"
RepeatMasker axis not added
Annotate peaks with RepMask intersect separately
Metagene flat for known position-specific RBP
Wrong feature BED (e.g., gene-body instead of transcript-isoform)
Use isoform-aware feature BED
RBP-Maps signal flat at cassette exons
No RNA-seq KD reference table
Generate cassettes from companion KD; use ENCODE shRNA tables
Operational rule: Report (a) ChIPseeker global region pie, (b) RBP-Maps metagene for splicing factors, (c) repeat-element fraction separately, (d) transcript-isoform context with Peakhood if ambiguous. Three views together prevent misinterpretation.
Common Errors
Error / symptom
Cause
Solution
"Promoter" >> 30% of peaks in CLIP
TSS region default too wide
tssRegion=c(-100,100)
Strand-mixing artifacts
Bedtools intersect without -s
Always pass -s for CLIP
3' UTR fraction < 10% for HuR
Wrong txdb version (UTR poorly annotated)
Use GENCODE v38+ TxDb
chrM peaks lost
TxDb excludes mitochondrial
Add mt-transcript BED
RBP-Maps flat metagene
No cassette exon BED
Generate from RNA-seq KD; or use ENCODE table
Repeat fraction over-counted
Same repeat instance counted multiple times
bedtools merge repeat BED first
ChIPseeker level='gene' collapses isoforms
Default level=gene
Set level='transcript'
Annotation runs slow for large peak set
RCAS HTML generation
Use ChIPseeker for global; RCAS for top-K
GO enrichment yields generic terms
Repeat-binding RBP annotated as intronic
Re-annotate with RepeatMasker axis
Peak in unannotated lincRNA labeled intergenic
Older GENCODE missing the lincRNA
Update GENCODE; add manual transcript BED
References
Yu G et al 2015 Bioinformatics 31:2382 (ChIPseeker)
Uyar B, Yusuf D et al 2017 Nucleic Acids Res 45:e91 (RCAS)
Yee BA et al 2019 RNA 25:193 (RBP-Maps splicing regulatory maps)
Van Nostrand EL et al 2020 Nature 583:711 (ENCODE 150 RBP eCLIP, region distribution analysis)
Quinlan AR & Hall IM 2010 Bioinformatics 26:841 (bedtools)
Hentze MW et al 2018 Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 19:327 (RBP function review)
Uhl M et al 2022 Bioinformatics 38:1139 (Peakhood transcript-context)
ENCODE eCLIP standards (encodeproject.org/eclip) - region distribution conventions
Related Skills
clip-seq/clip-peak-calling - Upstream peak calls
clip-seq/crosslink-site-detection - Single-nt CL sites for fine-grained metagene
clip-seq/clip-motif-analysis - Motif discovery within annotated regions
clip-seq/differential-clip - Cross-condition annotated peaks for regulatory maps
clip-seq/ago-clip-mirna-targets - 3' UTR seed-matched site annotation
