Alternative splicing is a process that allows a single gene to produce different forms of mRNA, and therefore different proteins. It greatly increases the variety of proteins that plants (and other organisms) can make from a limited number of genes.
Here’s how it works:
- Splicing basics
When a gene is transcribed, it produces a long RNA molecule called pre-mRNA. This pre-mRNA contains exons (coding regions) and introns (non-coding regions).
Normally, introns are removed, and exons are joined together to form the final mRNA. - Alternative splicing
In alternative splicing, the cell can choose different combinations of exons to include or skip when forming mRNA.
This means one gene can produce several versions of mRNA, each coding for a different protein. - Influence on gene expression
- It changes which protein is made from a gene.
- It affects how much of a protein is produced.
- It can create proteins with different functions, depending on the plant’s developmental stage or environmental conditions.
- Examples in plants
- Alternative splicing helps plants respond to stress such as drought, heat, or cold by producing proteins better suited to those conditions.
- It also regulates flowering time, hormone responses, and growth.
- Result
By using alternative splicing, plants can adapt gene expression quickly without needing new genes.
In short, alternative splicing lets plants make multiple proteins from a single gene, allowing flexible control of gene expression and helping them adjust to changes in growth and the environment.