Biomaterial Database

Developmental role of transcription factor isoforms generated by alternative splicing. 1995

A J López

Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213, USA.

The production of transcription factor isoforms by developmentally regulated alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs is a widespread phenomenon. Frequently, differences in biochemical function among the isoforms can be predicted from sequence analysis, and in many instances such differences have been demonstrated in vitro or in cultured cells. A great variety of strategies for functional diversification can be classified into three main types: modulation of DNA binding specificity or affinity, production of activators and antagonists from the same gene, and modulation of dimerization properties. Despite obvious implications in many cases, the actual developmental consequences are understood only in a few instances. The roles inferred from these examples are diverse, ranging from developmental switches that have profound effects on pathways of differentiation to mechanisms that may optimize or fine-tune transcription factor function in different contexts.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012313	RNA	A polynucleotide consisting essentially of chains with a repeating backbone of phosphate and ribose units to which nitrogenous bases are attached. RNA is unique among biological macromolecules in that it can encode genetic information, serve as an abundant structural component of cells, and also possesses catalytic activity. (Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed)	RNA, Non-Polyadenylated,Ribonucleic Acid,Gene Products, RNA,Non-Polyadenylated RNA,Acid, Ribonucleic,Non Polyadenylated RNA,RNA Gene Products,RNA, Non Polyadenylated
D014157	Transcription Factors	Endogenous substances, usually proteins, which are effective in the initiation, stimulation, or termination of the genetic transcription process.	Transcription Factor,Factor, Transcription,Factors, Transcription
D017398	Alternative Splicing	A process whereby multiple RNA transcripts are generated from a single gene. Alternative splicing involves the splicing together of other possible sets of EXONS during the processing of some, but not all, transcripts of the gene. Thus a particular exon may be connected to any one of several alternative exons to form a mature RNA. The alternative forms of mature MESSENGER RNA produce PROTEIN ISOFORMS in which one part of the isoforms is common while the other parts are different.	RNA Splicing, Alternative,Splicing, Alternative,Alternate Splicing,Nested Transcripts,Alternate Splicings,Alternative RNA Splicing,Alternative RNA Splicings,Alternative Splicings,Nested Transcript,RNA Splicings, Alternative,Splicing, Alternate,Splicing, Alternative RNA,Splicings, Alternate,Splicings, Alternative,Splicings, Alternative RNA,Transcript, Nested,Transcripts, Nested
D018507	Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action during the developmental stages of an organism.	Developmental Gene Expression Regulation,Embryologic Gene Expression Regulation,Gene Expression Regulation, Embryologic,Regulation of Gene Expression, Developmental,Regulation of Gene Expression, Embryologic,Regulation, Gene Expression, Developmental,Regulation, Gene Expression, Embryologic