Post-transcriptional regulation of the transcriptional apparatus in neuronal development

Post-transcriptional mechanisms, such as alternative splicing and polyadenylation, are recognized as critical regulatory processes that increase transcriptomic and proteomic diversity. The advent of next-generation sequencing and whole-genome analyses has revealed that numerous transcription and epigenetic regulators, including transcription factors and histone-modifying enzymes, undergo alternative splicing, most notably in the nervous system. Given the complexity of regulatory processes in the brain, it is conceivable that many of these splice variants control different aspects of neuronal development. Mutations or dysregulation of splicing and transcription regulatory proteins are frequently linked to various neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighting the importance of understanding the role of neuron-specific alternative splicing in maintaining proper transcriptional regulation in the brain. This review consolidates current insights into the role of alternative splicing in influencing transcriptional and chromatin regulatory programs in neuronal development.