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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

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

Pre-mRNA Processing: RNA Splicing

Pre-mRNA Processing: RNA Splicing

Chromatin Structure and RNA Splicing

Chromatin Structure and RNA Splicing

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins

Published on: August 9, 2019

RNA structure replaces the need for U2AF2 in splicing.

Chien-Ling Lin¹, Allison J Taggart¹, Kian Huat Lim¹

¹Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA;

Genome Research

|November 15, 2015

Summary

A novel class of nuclear introns uses RNA secondary structure for splicing, bypassing the need for U2AF2. This ancient splicing mechanism is conserved in zebrafish, highlighting its evolutionary significance.

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Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins

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Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells

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Published on: April 26, 2017

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

RNA secondary structure is crucial for various RNA functions.
Its role in messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing has been less understood.
Previous research has not widely recognized secondary structure's role in pre-mRNA splicing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of secondary structure in pre-mRNA splicing.
To identify and characterize a novel class of introns dependent on secondary structure.
To explore the evolutionary history and prevalence of this splicing mechanism.

Main Methods:

Computational analysis of RNA sequences.
Biochemical experiments to validate findings.
Phylogenetic analysis to trace evolutionary origins.

Main Results:

Identified a class of nuclear introns relying on secondary structure for splicing.
These introns feature repeat expansions forming a bridging structure for splice site pairing.
This mechanism bypasses the requirement for U2AF2, a key spliceosome component.
Phylogenetic analysis indicates an ancient vertebrate origin for this splicing strategy.

Conclusions:

A subset of nuclear introns utilizes RNA secondary structure for accurate splicing.
This structure-based splicing mechanism predates tetrapod-teleost divergence.
The mechanism is conserved in zebrafish, appearing in 10% of its genes, suggesting evolutionary persistence.
This finding expands our understanding of RNA splicing diversity and evolution.