Stochastic principles governing alternative splicing of RNA

PLoS Comput Biol. 2017 Sep 14;13(9):e1005761. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005761. eCollection 2017 Sep.

Abstract

The dominance of the major transcript isoform relative to other isoforms from the same gene generated by alternative splicing (AS) is essential to the maintenance of normal cellular physiology. However, the underlying principles that determine such dominance remain unknown. Here, we analyzed the physical AS process and found that it can be modeled by a stochastic minimization process, which causes the scaled expression levels of all transcript isoforms to follow the same Weibull extreme value distribution. Surprisingly, we also found a simple equation to describe the median frequency of transcript isoforms of different dominance. This two-parameter Weibull model provides the statistical distribution of all isoforms of all transcribed genes, and reveals that previously unexplained observations concerning relative isoform expression derive from these principles.

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing / genetics*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Computer Simulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Models, Genetic*
  • Models, Statistical*
  • RNA / genetics*
  • RNA Splice Sites / genetics
  • Stochastic Processes
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA Splice Sites
  • Transcription Factors
  • RNA

Grants and funding

The intramural program of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.