What is alternative splicing? a. phosphorylation that leads to different types of post-translational regulation b. mRNA processing that leads to different combinations of exons being spliced together c. folding that leads to proteins with alternative conformations d. the outcome of regulatory proteins that leads to changes in the life span of an mRNA

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1. Alternative splicing is a process that occurs during gene expression, which allows a single gene to code for multiple proteins. This is achieved by including or excluding certain sequences of the pre-mRNA, known as exons, during the splicing process. Therefore, the correct answer is: b. mRNA processing that leads to different combinations of exons being spliced together.

Key Concepts

Alternative Splicing

Alternative splicing is a post-transcriptional process in which a single gene can lead to multiple mRNA variants by including or excluding certain exons. This mechanism allows for the generation of diverse protein isoforms from a single gene, enhancing the complexity of gene expression and protein function in eukaryotic cells.

Exons and Introns

Exons are the coding regions of a gene that are retained in the final mRNA transcript, while introns are non-coding regions that are removed during mRNA processing. The arrangement and selection of exons during splicing determine the specific protein product, making the understanding of these elements crucial for grasping alternative splicing.

mRNA Processing

mRNA processing refers to the modifications that pre-mRNA undergoes before it becomes a mature mRNA molecule. This includes capping, polyadenylation, and splicing, which are essential for the stability, transport, and translation of mRNA. Alternative splicing is a key aspect of this processing, influencing the functional diversity of proteins.