AUTHOR=Zaphiropoulos Peter 

TITLE=Trans-splicing in Higher Eukaryotes: Implications for Cancer Development?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=volume 2 - 2011

YEAR=2011

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2011.00092

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2011.00092

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=Trans-splicing, the possibility of exons from distinct pre-mRNAs to join together, is still a concept in gene expression that is generally regarded of limited significance. However, recent work has provided evidence that in human tumors trans-splicing events may precede chromosomal rearrangements. In fact, it has been suggested that the trans-spliced molecules could act as “guides” that facilitate the genomic translocation. This perspective highlights the development of the ideas of trans-splicing in higher eukaryotes during the last twenty five years, from a bizarre phenomenon to a biological event that is attaining stronger recognition.