title: Alternative trans-splicing: a novel mode of pre-mRNA processing.
abstract: Alternative splicing is an important process contributing to proteome diversity without involving an increase in the number of genes. In some cases, alternative splicing is carried out under 'trans-mode', called alternative trans-splicing, in which exons located on separate pre-mRNA molecules are selectively joined to produce mature mRNAs encoding proteins with distinct structures and functions. However, it is not known how widespread or how frequently trans-splicing occurs in vivo. Recently, trans-allelic trans-splicing has been unambiguously demonstrated in Drosophila using a SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) as a marker. In this review, we provide an overview of alternative trans-splicing in Drosophila and mammals, and discuss its mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-osawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aigaki
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
chemical_list: D012322:RNA Precursors