This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lou, H. Articles by Gagel, R. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lou, H. Articles by Gagel, R. F.

Alternative Ribonucleic Acid Processing in Endocrine Systems

Department of Genetics and the Ireland Cancer Center (H.L.), Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine and University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4955; and Department of Medical Specialties (R.F.G.), Section of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormone Disorders, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030

Alternative RNA processing is a mechanism for creation of protein diversity through selective inclusion or exclusion of RNA sequence during posttranscriptional processing. More than one-third of human pre-mRNAs undergo alternative RNA processing modification, making this a ubiquitous biological process. The protein isoforms produced have distinct and sometimes opposite functions, underscoring the importance of this process. This review focuses on important endocrine genes regulated by alternative RNA processing. We discuss how diverse events such as spermatogenesis or GH action are regulated by this process. We focus on several endocrine (calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide) and nonendocrine (Drosophila doublesex and P-element and mouse c-src) examples to highlight recent progress in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms regulating this process. Finally, we outline methods (model systems and techniques) used by investigators in this field to study processing of individual pre-mRNAs.