Consider the CT/CGRP example of alternative splicing shown in Figure 18.3. Which different types of alternative splicing patterns are represented?

Key Concepts

Alternative Splicing

Alternative splicing is a regulatory mechanism by which a single gene can produce multiple mRNA variants, leading to different protein isoforms. This process allows for the inclusion or exclusion of specific exons or introns during mRNA processing, significantly increasing the diversity of proteins that can be generated from a single gene.

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 typically removed during splicing. Understanding the roles of exons and introns is crucial for analyzing alternative splicing patterns, as different combinations of exons can lead to various protein products.

Types of Alternative Splicing

There are several types of alternative splicing patterns, including exon skipping, mutually exclusive exons, and intron retention. Each pattern alters the mRNA transcript in distinct ways, affecting the resulting protein's function and properties, which is essential for understanding the CT/CGRP example and its implications in gene expression.