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RNA Editing

RNA Editing

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...

Alternative RNA Splicing

Alternative RNA Splicing

Alternative RNA splicing is the regulated splicing of exons and introns to produce different mature mRNAs from a single pre-mRNA. Unlike in constitutive splicing where a single gene produces a single type of mRNA, alternative splicing allows an organism to produce multiple proteins from a single gene and plays an important role in protein diversity.
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...

Alternative RNA Splicing

Alternative RNA Splicing

Alternative RNA splicing is the regulated splicing of exons and introns to produce different mature mRNAs from a single pre-mRNA. Unlike in constitutive splicing where a single gene produces a single type of mRNA, alternative splicing allows an organism to produce multiple proteins from a single gene and plays an important role in protein diversity.
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Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends

Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends

In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps the cell...

pre-mRNA Processing

pre-mRNA Processing

In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl guanosine). This 5’ cap helps the...

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Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Identification of Alternative Splicing and Polyadenylation in RNA-seq Data

Identification of Alternative Splicing and Polyadenylation in RNA-seq Data

Published on: June 24, 2021

Alternative polyadenylation: a mechanism maximizing transcriptome diversity in higher eukaryotes.

Denghui Xing¹, Qingshun Quinn Li

¹Department of Botany, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA.

Plant Signaling & Behavior

|October 10, 2009

Summary

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) generates diverse mRNA 3' ends, contributing to the complexity of higher eukaryotes. This mechanism expands transcriptome diversity beyond gene number, impacting biological functions.

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genomics
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Protein-coding gene expansion doesn't fully explain higher eukaryotic complexity.
Transcriptional regulation, alternative splicing, and non-coding RNAs contribute to transcriptome complexity.

Discussion:

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is an emerging mechanism creating diverse mRNA 3' ends.
APA is widespread in higher eukaryotes and responsive to environmental and developmental signals.
Plant polyadenylation factors regulate specific gene expression via APA.

Key Insights:

Phylogenetic analysis shows increased polyadenylation factors in higher eukaryotes, enabling functional differentiation.
APA provides a mechanism for generating functional diversity beyond the genome.
APA contributes significantly to the complexity observed in higher eukaryotes.

Outlook:

Further research into APA's role in eukaryotic evolution and function is warranted.
Investigating APA regulation in various species can reveal conserved and divergent mechanisms.
APA's contribution to phenotypic diversity warrants deeper exploration.