Splicing to orchestrate cell fate
Xurui Zhang, Zhonghao Guo, Yachen Li, Yungang Xu
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) plays a critical role in gene expression by generating protein diversity from single genes. This review provides an overview of AS's role in regulating cell fate, focusing on its involvement in processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. We explore how AS influences the cell cycle, particularly its impact on key stages like G1, S, and G2/M. The review also examines AS in cell differentiation, highlighting its effects on mesenchymal stem cells and neurogenesis, and how it regulates differentiation into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. Additionally, we discuss the role of AS in programmed cell death, including apoptosis and pyroptosis, and its contribution to cancer progression. Importantly, targeting aberrant splicing mechanisms presents promising therapeutic opportunities for restoring normal cellular function. By synthesizing recent findings, this review provides insights into how AS governs cellular fate and offers directions for future research into splicing regulatory networks. This review highlights how alternative splicing (AS) shapes cell fate, covering its regulatory impact on proliferation, cell cycle, differentiation, apoptosis, and oncogenesis. By integrating recent discoveries, we reveal AS’s roles in orchestrating these cellular processes, offering insights into its impact on cellular behavior and the complexity of multicellular organisms.