RNA splicing

RNA splicing removes introns from a precursor RNA and joins the remaining segments. It commonly converts precursor messenger RNA into mature messenger RNA.

Spliceosome: A dynamic ribonucleoprotein complex that removes introns from most eukaryotic precursor messenger RNAs. It assembles on precursor RNA and catalyzes the two reactions that remove each intron.
Precursor messenger RNA: An RNA transcript that undergoes processing, including splicing, before becoming mature messenger RNA. It is the usual substrate whose introns and exons are rearranged by splicing.
Alternative splicing: The production of different RNA isoforms from one precursor transcript by varying exon inclusion or splice-site use. It extends RNA splicing from intron removal to regulated production of distinct messages.
Group II intron: A self-splicing RNA element found in some bacteria, archaea, and organelles that uses a lariat-forming mechanism. Its self-splicing chemistry resembles spliceosomal intron removal without the same elaborate machinery.
Splicing mutation: A genetic variant that disrupts normal splice-site recognition or other signals controlling RNA splicing. Such variants can cause exon skipping, intron retention, or use of an abnormal splice site.
Splice site: A short sequence in precursor RNA that marks an exon–intron boundary or branch point for splicing. The spliceosome identifies these signals to choose where each intron begins and ends.
Intron: A segment transcribed into an RNA molecule but removed during RNA processing. Splicing excises introns while retaining the RNA segments that encode the joined message.
Splice-switching oligonucleotide: A short synthetic nucleic acid designed to alter splice-site use by binding a target RNA sequence. These molecules can redirect splicing to restore a useful transcript or change its protein product.
Self-splicing RNA: An RNA molecule capable of catalyzing its own excision from a larger RNA transcript. It shows that intron removal can occur without spliceosome-mediated catalysis.
Intron retention: A splicing outcome in which an intron remains in a mature or partially processed RNA. It is one possible result of altered splice-site choice and can change RNA stability or translation.

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