Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Gene. 2013 Feb 1;514(1):1-30. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.07.083. Epub 2012 Aug 15.
Almost all polymerase II transcripts undergo alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Here, we review the functions of alternative splicing events that have been experimentally determined. The overall function of alternative splicing is to increase the diversity of mRNAs expressed from the genome. Alternative splicing changes proteins encoded by mRNAs, which has profound functional effects. Experimental analysis of these protein isoforms showed that alternative splicing regulates binding between proteins, between proteins and nucleic acids as well as between proteins and membranes. Alternative splicing regulates the localization of proteins, their enzymatic properties and their interaction with ligands. In most cases, changes caused by individual splicing isoforms are small. However, cells typically coordinate numerous changes in 'splicing programs', which can have strong effects on cell proliferation, cell survival and properties of the nervous system. Due to its widespread usage and molecular versatility, alternative splicing emerges as a central element in gene regulation that interferes with almost every biological function analyzed.
几乎所有的聚合酶 II 转录本都经历选择性的前体 mRNA 剪接。在这里，我们回顾了已通过实验确定的选择性剪接事件的功能。选择性剪接的总体功能是增加从基因组表达的 mRNA 的多样性。选择性剪接改变了 mRNA 编码的蛋白质，这具有深远的功能影响。对这些蛋白质异构体的实验分析表明，选择性剪接调节蛋白质之间、蛋白质与核酸之间以及蛋白质与膜之间的结合。选择性剪接调节蛋白质的定位、酶性质以及与配体的相互作用。在大多数情况下，单个剪接异构体引起的变化很小。然而，细胞通常协调大量“剪接程序”的变化，这可能对细胞增殖、细胞存活和神经系统特性产生强烈影响。由于其广泛的用途和分子多功能性，选择性剪接成为基因调控的核心要素，几乎干扰了分析的每一种生物功能。
