Cross-Species Characterisation of Alternative Splicing Patterns

摘要: Alternative splicing is a common post-transcriptional process in eukaryote organisms by which single gene can produce more than one distinct transcript. First discovered the late 1970s, alternative has been focus of intense attention after release human genome draft revealed lower expected number. Almost all protein coding genes are now known to be alternatively spliced. However, how humans and other well studied model compares less characterised taxa such as protists fungi or what functional role remains poorly understood. Here I analyse dozens species using millions partial transcript sequences ESTs. By applying normalisation method showed that higher previously reported highly variable. further observed representatives both taxa, associations with translation overrepresented among spliced genes. no evidence for relationship between complex phenotypes was found. Taking lice explored evolution phenotypic variants. found that, despite fact transcriptome profiles head body nearly identical, there markedly differences patterns. Development related were enriched specific events but not consistent scenario differential patterns contributing innovations adapted life clothing. explore relevance its possible driving genomic even preceding duplication. Together work presented show widespread understudied protist provide insights on adaptation novel environments model.