Meeting Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a cellular process by which multiple messenger RNA (mRNA) species arise from the selective splicing of introns within a gene. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data analysis of various places has yielded estimates of 61% of intron-containing genes undergoing AS. Despite this prevalence, little is known about AS’s role in transcriptome complexity and genetic regulation in plants. We leveraged the availability of RNA-seq data from diverse plant species and life stages to compare profiles of AS across the plant kingdom. Using an iterative multi-step transcriptomics pipeline, we have performed an exhaustive genome-wide survey to systematically identify AS events in various plants and shed light on the role of AS in plants. This work revealed substantial variation in rate and form of AS across plant lineages, and insights into the functional pathways affected by AS in various lineages.
