Promoter usage and alternative splicing

KORNBLIHTT, A

CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY

Año: 2005 vol. 17 p. 262 - 268

0955-0674

Recent findings justify a renewed interest in alternative splicing (AS): the process is more a rule than an exception as it affects the expression of 60% of human genes; it explains how a vast mammalian proteomic complexity is achieved with a limited number of genes, and mutations in AS regulatory sequences are a widespread source of human disease. AS regulation not only depends on the interaction of splicing factors with their target sequences in the pre-mRNA but is coupled to transcription. We discuss here the mechanisms by which transcription affects AS through promoter identity and occupation. These involve recruitment of factors with dual functions in transcription and splicing and control of RNA polymerase II elongation.