Regulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing

The first wave of bioinformatic studies that followed genome and complementary DNA sequencing projects revealed that alternative splicing of messenger RNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) contributes substantially to transcriptome complexity in higher eukaryotes. Together with the realisation of the impact of the process on cell differentiation, development and disease, these studies portray alternative splicing as a fundamental component of gene regulation. Both detailed mechanistic studies and genome-wide analyses will be necessary to unravel the molecular basis for cell type-specific splice site selection. This paper will highlight some recent progress and future challenges for functional genomics and bioinformatics in this rapidly developing area.