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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
11:48
Detection of Alternative Splicing During Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: October 9, 2014
An alternative splicing network links cell-cycle control to apoptosis.
Michael J Moore1, Qingqing Wang, Caleb J Kennedy
1Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Cell
|August 14, 2010
Summary
Alternative splicing regulates cell death and is disrupted in diseases. This study reveals a network linking cell-cycle control to apoptosis through alternative splicing of key genes.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Alternative splicing is a key mechanism for biological regulation and diversity.
- Dysregulation of alternative splicing is implicated in various diseases, including cancer.
- The Bcl2 family of apoptosis factors plays a critical role in programmed cell death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the global control of alternative splicing in human cells.
- To identify regulators of alternative splicing for Bcl-x and Mcl1 mRNA.
- To understand the link between cell-cycle control and apoptosis via splicing.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide siRNA screen to identify splicing regulators.
- Analysis of mRNA splicing patterns for Bcl2 family apoptosis factors.
- Investigation of the role of cell-cycle factors and aurora kinase A.
Main Results:
- A network of cell-cycle factors, including aurora kinase A, was identified as regulators of Bcl-x and Mcl1 splicing.
- Mitotic arrest induced by drugs or siRNAs promoted proapoptotic splicing of Bcl-x, Mcl1, and caspase-9.
- Posttranslational turnover of splicing regulator ASF/SF2 correlated with shifts in splice variants, impacting apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- A novel alternative splicing network links cell-cycle control to apoptosis.
- Coordinated upregulation of prodeath splice variants promotes apoptosis in cells undergoing mitotic arrest.
- Splicing regulator ASF/SF2 plays a global role in regulating apoptosis through alternative splicing.
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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...
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...
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