Trans-splicing

Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA. 2011 May-Jun;2(3):417-34. doi: 10.1002/wrna.71. Epub 2011 Jan 20.

Abstract

Trans-splicing is the joining together of portions of two separate pre-mRNA molecules. The two distinct categories of spliceosomal trans-splicing are genic trans-splicing, which joins exons of different pre-mRNA transcripts, and spliced leader (SL) trans-splicing, which involves an exon donated from a specialized SL RNA. Both depend primarily on the same signals and components as cis-splicing. Genic trans-splicing events producing protein-coding mRNAs have been described in a variety of organisms, including Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila. In mammalian cells, genic trans-splicing can be associated with cancers and translocations. SL trans-splicing has mainly been studied in nematodes and trypanosomes, but there are now numerous and diverse phyla (including primitive chordates) where this type of trans-splicing has been detected. Such diversity raises questions as to the evolutionary origin of the process. Another intriguing question concerns the function of trans-splicing, as operon resolution can only account for a small proportion of the total amount of SL trans-splicing.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Operon
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA Precursors / genetics
  • RNA Precursors / metabolism
  • RNA Stability
  • RNA, Spliced Leader / chemistry
  • RNA, Spliced Leader / genetics
  • RNA, Spliced Leader / metabolism
  • Spliceosomes / metabolism
  • Trans-Splicing / genetics*
  • Trans-Splicing / physiology*

Substances

  • RNA Precursors
  • RNA, Spliced Leader