Cross-talk in transcription, splicing and chromatin: who makes the first call?
The complex processes of mRNA transcription and splicing were traditionally studied in isolation. In vitro studies showed that splicing could occur independently of transcription and the perceived wisdom was that, to a large extent, it probably did. However, there is now abundant evidence for functional interactions between transcription and splicing, with important consequences for splicing regulation. In the present paper, we summarize the evidence that transcription affects splicing and vice versa, and the more recent indications of epigenetic effects on splicing, through chromatin modifications. We end by discussing the potential for a systems biology approach to obtain better insight into how these processes affect each other.
Alexander
Ross
R
Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, and Edinburgh Centre for Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK.
Beggs
Jean D
JD
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017381:Spliceosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear