Global impact of RNA splicing on transcriptome remodeling in the heart

J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2012 Aug;13(8):603-8. doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1201006.

Abstract

In the eukaryotic transcriptome, both the numbers of genes and different RNA species produced by each gene contribute to the overall complexity. These RNA species are generated by the utilization of different transcriptional initiation or termination sites, or more commonly, from different messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing events. Among the 30,000+ genes in human genome, it is estimated that more than 95% of them can generate more than one gene product via alternative RNA splicing. The protein products generated from different RNA splicing variants can have different intracellular localization, activity, or tissue-distribution. Therefore, alternative RNA splicing is an important molecular process that contributes to the overall complexity of the genome and the functional specificity and diversity among different cell types. In this review, we will discuss current efforts to unravel the full complexity of the cardiac transcriptome using a deep-sequencing approach, and highlight the potential of this technology to uncover the global impact of RNA splicing on the transcriptome during development and diseases of the heart.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing
  • Animals
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / genetics
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Exons
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genome, Human
  • Heart / physiology*
  • Heart / physiopathology
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • RNA Splicing*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Transcriptome*