On the Function of Trans-Splicing: No Evidence for Widespread Proteome Diversification in Trypanosomes. (10th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Soulette, Cameron M; Oliverio, Oliver; Roy, Scott W
• Editors: Lynch, Michael
• Is Part Of: Genome biology and evolution. Volume 11:Number 10(2019)
• Page Start: 3014
• Page End: 3021
• Publication Date: 2019-10-10
• Subjects: molecular evolution -- spliced leader -- trans-splicing -- trypanosome -- comparative genomics -- bioinformatics; Genomics -- Periodicals; Genes -- Periodicals; 572.8605
• DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evz217
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-6653

Abstract

Abstract: A long-standing mystery of genomic/transcriptomic structure involves spliced leader trans-splicing (SLTS), in which short RNA "tags" transcribed from a distinct genomic locus is added near the 5′ end of RNA transcripts by the spliceosome. SLTS has been observed in diverse eukaryotes in a phylogenetic pattern implying recurrent independent evolution. This striking convergence suggests important functions for SLTS, however no general novel function is known. Recent findings of frequent alternative SLTS (ALT-TS) suggest that ALT-TS could impart widespread functionality. Here, we tested the hypothesis that ALT-TS diversifies proteomes by comparing splicing patterns in orthologous genes between two deeply diverged trypanosome parasites. We also tested proteome diversification functions of ALT-TS by utilizing ribosome profiling sequence data. Finally, we investigated ALT-TS as a mechanism to regulate the expression of unproductive transcripts. Although our results indicate the functional importance of some cases of trans-splicing, we find no evidence for the hypothesis that proteome diversification is a general function of trans-splicing.