Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

A Reporter Based Cellular Assay for Monitoring Splicing Efficiency
Published on: September 15, 2021
Role of RNA structure in regulating pre-mRNA splicing
M Bryan Warf1, J Andrew Berglund
1Institute of Molecular Biology, and Department of Chemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA.
None:
Pre-mRNA splicing involves removing non-coding introns from RNA transcripts. It is carried out by the spliceosome, along with other auxiliary factors. In general, research in splicing has focused on the sequences within the pre-mRNA, without considering the structures that these sequences might form. We propose that the role of RNA structure deserves more consideration when thinking about splicing mechanisms. RNA structures can inhibit or aid binding of spliceosomal components to the pre-mRNA, or can increase splicing efficiency by bringing important sequences into close proximity. Recent reports have identified proteins and small molecules that can regulate splicing by modulating RNA structures, thereby expanding our knowledge of the mechanisms used to regulate splicing.
Related Concept Videos
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
The chromatin structure, especially...
RNA Splicing
RNA Splicing
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...
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...
Pre-mRNA Processing
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...

