[The application of bioinformatics in the research of alternative splicing]

Alternative splicing, a fundamental and important regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes, allows one pre-mRNA to be processed into many different mature forms within a cell, each of which can have distinct functions. As alternative splicing is associated with human diseases, the study of alternative splicing becomes quite important. Bioinformatics is a new subject for the study of alternative splicing, especially for its regulatory mechanism, prediction and origin. Of course, bioinformatics must be combined with experimental research so as to clarify these aspects of alternative splicing. This paper reviewed the recent research progress in this field in the hope to gain a deeper understanding of eukaryotic gene expression regulation.