Emerging Roles of Alternative Pre-mRNA Splicing Regulation in Neuronal Development and Function

Abstract

Alternative pre-mRNA splicing has the potential to greatly diversify the repertoire of transcripts in multicellular organisms. Increasing evidence suggests that this expansive layer of gene regulation plays a particularly important role in the development and function of the nervous system, one of the most complex organ systems found in nature. In this review, we highlight recent studies that continue to emphasize the influence and contribution of alternative splicing regulation to various aspects of neuronal development in addition to its role in the mature nervous system.

Keywords: RNA processing; alternative splicing; gene regulation; genomics; nervous system.

Figure 1

Notable alternative splicing events important for nervous system development, and the factors implicated in regulating their splicing patterns. Developmental stages are represented by the arrow, beginning with neurogenesis, and ending with synapse maturation and function. Splicing factors and target transcripts are correspondingly color coded to the developmental stage in which they are known to be important.

Figure 2

Mechanisms of depolarization-dependent alternative splicing, including known trans-acting factors, the cis-elements with which they interact, and a representative alternative splicing event regulated by each specific pathway. Established mechanisms are shown as solid arrows, while activities with unknown intermediates are shown with dashed lines.