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Maintenance of an open reading frame as an additional level of scrutiny during splice site selection

Nature Genetics volume 8, pages 183–188 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

Although nonsense mutations have been associated with the skipping of specific constitutively spliced exons in selected genes, notably the fibrillin gene, the basis for this association is unclear. Now, using chimaeric constructs in a model in vivo expression system, premature termination codons are identified as determinants of splice site selection. Nonsense codon recognition prior to RNA splicing necessitates the ability to read the frame of precursor mRNA in the nucleus. We propose that maintenance of an open reading frame can serve as an additional level of scrutiny during exon definition. This process may have pathogenic and evolutionary significance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine,

    Harry C. Dietz & Raymond J. Kendzior Jr.

  2. Molecular Biology and Genetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA

    Harry C. Dietz & Raymond J. Kendzior Jr.

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  1. Harry C. Dietz
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  2. Raymond J. Kendzior Jr.
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Dietz, H., Kendzior, R. Maintenance of an open reading frame as an additional level of scrutiny during splice site selection. Nat Genet 8, 183–188 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng1094-183

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