Pre-mRNA Splicing in Eukaryotic Cells

Abstract

Gene expression in eukaryotic cells is a collective outcome of transcription, RNA processing, and protein translation. In this chapter, I focus on the mechanism and regulation of gene expression at the level of RNA metabolism. I begin with the introduction of different kinds of RNA expressed in mammalian cells, including mRNAs, rRNAs, tRNAs, small RNAs, miRNAs, and RNAs of unknown function. Realizing that the RNA world is a big topic, which is beyond the scope of a single chapter, I am forced to concentrate on the pathway and regulation of pre-mRNA processing, which is arguably the most important step in gene expression and regulation. Readers are referred to outstanding reviews on other RNA categories for detailed information. Key features in this chapter also include the discussion on integration of RNA processing with other critical nuclear events and on genomics of splicing in the current post-genome era. Most of the information covered here is a condensed version of a number of lectures given annually to graduate students in Beijing and Shanghai as part of the Molecular and Cell Biology course contributed by members of the Ray Wu society.