title: Decrypting the genome's alternative messages.
abstract: Alternative splicing of messenger RNA (mRNA) precursors affects the majority of human genes, has a considerable impact on eukaryotic gene function and offers distinct opportunities for regulation. Alterations in alternative splicing can cause or modify the progression of a significant number of pathologies. Recent high-throughput technologies have uncovered a wealth of transcript diversity generated by alternative splicing, as well as examples for how this diversity can be established and become misregulated. A variety of mechanisms modulate splice site choice coordinately with other cellular processes, from transcription and mRNA editing or decay to miRNA-based regulation and telomerase function. Alternative splicing studies can contribute to our understanding of multiple biological processes, including genetic diversity, speciation, cell/stem cell differentiation, nervous system function, neuromuscular disorders and tumour progression.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Regulació Genómica, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valcárcel
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D016678:Genome; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012322:RNA Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger