The birth of an alternatively spliced exon: 3' splice-site selection in Alu exons.

Lev-Maor, Galit; Sorek, Rotem; Shomron, Noam; Ast, Gil · Science · 2003

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Alu repetitive elements can be inserted into mature messenger RNAs via a splicing-mediated process termed exonization. To understand the molecular basis and the regulation of the process of turning intronic Alus into new exons, we compiled and analyzed a data set of human exonized Alus. We revealed a mechanism that governs 3' splice-site selection in these exons during alternative splicing. On the basis of these findings, we identified mutations that activated the exonization of a silent intronic Alu.

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