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RNA Splicing

RNA Splicing

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...

RNA Splicing

RNA Splicing

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...

Pre-mRNA Processing: RNA Splicing

Pre-mRNA Processing: RNA Splicing

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...

Exon Recombination

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes.
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...

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.
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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

ACT1-CUP1 Assays Determine the Substrate-Specific Sensitivities of Spliceosomal Mutants in Budding Yeast

ACT1-CUP1 Assays Determine the Substrate-Specific Sensitivities of Spliceosomal Mutants in Budding Yeast

Published on: June 30, 2022

Origin and evolution of spliceosomal introns.

Igor B Rogozin¹, Liran Carmel, Miklos Csuros

¹National Center for Biotechnology Information NLM/NIH, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bldg, 38A, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.

|April 18, 2012

Summary

Eukaryotic genes were intron-rich since the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA), with evolution primarily involving intron loss, not gain. Introns played a key role in eukaryogenesis and eukaryotic evolution.

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A Reporter Based Cellular Assay for Monitoring Splicing Efficiency

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Last Updated: May 23, 2026

ACT1-CUP1 Assays Determine the Substrate-Specific Sensitivities of Spliceosomal Mutants in Budding Yeast

ACT1-CUP1 Assays Determine the Substrate-Specific Sensitivities of Spliceosomal Mutants in Budding Yeast

Published on: June 30, 2022

A Reporter Based Cellular Assay for Monitoring Splicing Efficiency

A Reporter Based Cellular Assay for Monitoring Splicing Efficiency

Published on: September 15, 2021

Area of Science:

Genomics
Evolutionary Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

The origin and evolution of exon-intron structure in eukaryotic genes is a long-standing debate.
Two main hypotheses exist: 'introns-early' (introns present from early evolution) and 'introns-late' (introns emerged later in eukaryotes).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the evolutionary history of intron-exon structures in eukaryotic genes.
To determine the ancestral state of intron-exon structure at the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA).

Main Methods:

Comparative genomics analysis of orthologous genes across diverse eukaryotic genomes.
Phylogenetic reconstruction of intron gain and loss events using probabilistic models.

Main Results:

Shared intron positions in orthologous genes across animals, plants, and protists indicate persistence since LECA.
Reconstructions show LECA and early eukaryotic supergroup ancestors had intron-rich genes.
Subsequent evolution in most lineages involved significant intron loss, with limited intron gain.

Conclusions:

The 'introns-first' hypothesis is not supported by evidence.
Eukaryotic exon-intron structure evolved with the eukaryotic cell, with introns being crucial evolutionary factors.
Intron invasion may have driven eukaryogenesis, while splicing errors contributed to multicellular complexity.