Characterization of trans -spliced chimeric RNAs: insights into the mechanism of trans -splicing.

Trans -splicing is a post-transcriptional processing event that joins exons from separate RNAs to produce a chimeric RNA. However, the detailed mechanism of trans -splicing remains poorly understood. Here, we characterize trans -spliced genes and provide insights into the mechanism of trans -splicing in the tunicate Ciona . Tunicates are the closest invertebrates to humans, and their genes frequently undergo trans -splicing. Our analysis revealed that, in genes that give rise to both trans -spliced and non- trans -spliced messenger RNAs, trans -splice acceptor sites were preferentially located at the first functional acceptor site, and their paired donor sites were weak in both Ciona and humans. Additionally, we found that Ciona trans -spliced genes had GU- and AU-rich 5' transcribed regions. Our data and findings not only are useful for Ciona research community, but may also aid in a better understanding of the trans -splicing mechanism, potentially advancing the development of gene therapy based on trans -splicing.