Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
12 p.
Publication Date
3-2010
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Source Publication
RNA Biology
Source ISSN
1547-6286
Abstract
The discovery of increasing numbers of genes with overlapping sequences highlights the problem of expression in the context of constraining regulatory elements from more than one gene. This study identifies regulatory sequences encompassed within two genes that overlap in an antisense orientation at their 3’ ends. The genes encode the α-thyroid hormone receptor gene (TRα or NR1A1) and Rev-erbα (NR1D1). In mammals TRα pre-mRNAs are alternatively spliced to yield mRNAs encoding functionally antagonistic proteins: TRα1, an authentic thyroid hormone receptor; and TRα2, a non-hormone-binding variant that acts as a repressor. TRα2-specific splicing requires two regulatory elements that overlap with Rev-erbα sequences. Functional mapping of these elements reveals minimal splicing enhancer elements that have evolved within the constraints of the overlapping Rev-erbα sequence. These results provide insight into the evolution of regulatory elements within the context of bidirectional coding sequences. They also demonstrate the ability of the genetic code to accommodate multiple layers of information within a given sequence, an important property of the code recently suggested on theoretical grounds.
Recommended Citation
Salato, Valerie K.; Rediske, Nathaniel W.; Zhang, Chao; Hastings, Michelle Laura; and Munroe, Stephen, "An Exonic Splicing Enhancer within a Bidirectional Coding Sequence Regulates Alternative Splicing of an Antisense mRNA" (2010). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 380.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/380
Comments
Accepted version. RNA Biology, Vol. 7, No. 2 (March 2010): 179-190. DOI. © 2010 Taylor & Francis. Used with permission.