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Updated: May 23, 2026

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A Reporter Based Cellular Assay for Monitoring Splicing Efficiency
Published on: September 15, 2021
Spliceosome-mediated trans-splicing: the therapeutic cut and paste
Verena Wally1, Eva M Murauer, Johann W Bauer
1Division of Molecular Dermatology and EB House Austria, Department of Dermatology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|April 13, 2012
Summary
Spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing (SMaRT) offers a promising RNA-based approach for treating genetic diseases, showing success in lab studies and moving towards clinical trials for various disorders.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- RNA Therapeutics
Background:
- Spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing (SMaRT) is an advanced RNA-based technology.
- SMaRT presents a novel strategy for gene reprogramming with potential in diagnostics and therapeutics.
- It offers distinct advantages over conventional gene-replacement therapies for genetic disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the advancements in the medical applications of SMaRT.
- To highlight the progress of trans-splicing RNA therapy towards clinical use.
- To provide an outlook on future applications of SMaRT.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on SMaRT technology.
- Analysis of in vitro studies demonstrating phenotypic correction for genetic disorders.
- Evaluation of in vivo studies progressing towards clinical translation.
Main Results:
- SMaRT has demonstrated in vitro phenotypic correction for diverse genetic conditions, including epidermolysis bullosa and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Ongoing in vivo studies indicate a strong potential for trans-splicing RNA therapy in clinical settings.
- The technology is advancing rapidly from laboratory research to potential therapeutic applications.
Conclusions:
- SMaRT is a rapidly developing RNA-based therapeutic strategy with significant potential for genetic disease treatment.
- The technology has shown efficacy in correcting genetic defects in vitro and is progressing towards clinical application.
- Further research and clinical studies are expected to expand the therapeutic utility of SMaRT.
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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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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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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...
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 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...
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In eukaryotic cells, nascent mRNA transcripts need to undergo many post-transcriptional modifications to reach the cell cytoplasm and translate into functional proteins. For a long time, transcription and pre-mRNA processing were considered two independent events that occur sequentially in the cell. However, it has now been well established that transcription and pre-mRNA processing are two simultaneous processes that are precisely regulated inside the cell.
The chromatin structure, especially...
The chromatin structure, especially...
