Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Using the E1A Minigene Tool to Study mRNA Splicing Changes
Published on: April 22, 2021
ESRP1 and ESRP2 are epithelial cell-type-specific regulators of FGFR2 splicing
Claude C Warzecha1, Trey K Sato, Behnam Nabet
1Department of Medicine, Renal Division, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
Cell-type-specific expression of epithelial and mesenchymal isoforms of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2) is achieved through tight regulation of mutually exclusive exons IIIb and IIIc, respectively. Using an application of cell-based cDNA expression screening, we identified two paralogous epithelial cell-type-specific RNA-binding proteins that are essential regulators of FGFR2 splicing. Ectopic expression of either protein in cells that express FGFR2-IIIc caused a switch in endogenous FGFR2 splicing to the epithelial isoform. Conversely, knockdown of both factors in cells that express FGFR2-IIIb by RNA interference caused a switch from the epithelial to mesenchymal isoform. These factors also regulate splicing of CD44, p120-Catenin (CTNND1), and hMena (ENAH), three transcripts that undergo changes in splicing during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). These studies suggest that Epithelial Splicing Regulatory Proteins 1 and 2 (ESRP1 and ESRP2) are coordinators of an epithelial cell-type-specific splicing program.
Related Concept Videos
Alternative RNA Splicing
There are five types of alternative RNA splicing that vary in the ways the pre-mRNA segments are removed or retained in the mature mRNA. The first...
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
RNA Splicing
RNA Splicing
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
Directing Proteins to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

