A fully interpretable model of pre-mRNA splicing for animal and plant genes has been developed.
New findings align with studies on dynamic organization of genes around nuclear speckles and mRNA splicing efficiency.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz discovered new activity of spliceosomes after splicing is finished.
Spliceosomes engage in a third reaction, converting lariat introns into circles.
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers at UC Santa Cruz have unveiled new activity of spliceosomes after splicing is finished, suggesting that spliceosomes might still be reinserting introns into the genome today. The study reveals that following the two-step process of splicing and removal of introns as lariats, the spliceosome engages in a third reaction, converting lariat introns into circles. This discovery by Manuel Ares and his team sheds light on previously unknown functions of spliceosomes and their potential role in genome modification.
This research aligns with findings from other studies that have demonstrated the dynamic organization of genes around nuclear speckles, leading to differences in splicing efficiency between cell types. The Guttman Lab and researchers from M. Nuclear Review of Molecular and Cell Biology and Cold Spring Harb Perspectives in Biology have also explored the role of nuclear speckles in mRNA splicing.
Furthermore, a fully interpretable model of pre-mRNA splicing for animal and plant genes has been developed by scientists. The SMsplice model predicts splice site locations with varying accuracy across different species, including fish, insects, plants, and mammals. This breakthrough could lead to a better understanding of gene expression and the conserved process of pre-mRNA splicing across eukaryotes.
In summary, recent studies have unveiled new spliceosome activity and its potential role in genome modification, dynamic gene organization around nuclear speckles influencing mRNA splicing efficiency, and a fully interpretable model of pre-mRNA splicing for animal and plant genes. These findings contribute to our understanding of gene expression and the fundamental process of pre-mRNA splicing in eukaryotes.
Genes localized near nuclear speckles have higher spliceosome concentrations and increased spliceosome binding to their pre-mRNAs compared to genes that are located farther from nuclear speckles.
Dynamic changes in gene organization around nuclear speckles lead to differences in splicing efficiency between cell types.
Directed recruitment of a pre-mRNA to nuclear speckles increases mRNA splicing levels.
