Splicing to keep splicing: A feedback system for cellular homeostasis and state transition

ABSTRACT Background Alternative splicing (AS) plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and governing proteomic diversity by generating multiple protein isoforms from a single gene. Increasing evidence has highlighted the regulation for pre‐mRNA splicing of the splicing factors (SFs). This...

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Main Authors: Zhonghao Guo, Xurui Zhang, Yachen Li, Yule Chen, Yungang Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Clinical and Translational Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.70369
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author Zhonghao Guo
Xurui Zhang
Yachen Li
Yule Chen
Yungang Xu
author_facet Zhonghao Guo
Xurui Zhang
Yachen Li
Yule Chen
Yungang Xu
author_sort Zhonghao Guo
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Alternative splicing (AS) plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and governing proteomic diversity by generating multiple protein isoforms from a single gene. Increasing evidence has highlighted the regulation for pre‐mRNA splicing of the splicing factors (SFs). This review aims to examine featured mechanisms and examples of SF regulation by AS, focusing on paradigmatic feedback loops and their biological implications. Main Body of the Abstract We specifically focus on the autoregulation and inter‐regulation of SFs through AS machinery. These interactions give rise to a feedback system, where the negative feedback loops aid in maintaining cellular homeostasis, and the positive feedback loops play roles in triggering cellular state transitions. We examine the growing evidence highlighting the specific mechanisms employed by SFs to autoregulate their own splicing, including AS‐coupled nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay (AS‐NMD), nuclear retention, and alternative 3'UTR regulation. We showcase the influence of AS feedback in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and cancer. Furthermore, we discuss how master splicing factors can dominantly orchestrate splicing cascades, leading to widespread impacts in cellular processes. We also discuss how non‐coding RNAs, particularly circular RNAs and microRNAs, engage in the splicing regulatory networks. Lastly, we showcase how negative and positive feedback loops can collaboratively achieve remarkable biological functions during the cell fate decision. Short Conclusion This review highlights the regulation of SFs by AS, providing enriched information for future investigations that aim at deciphering the intricate interplay within splicing regulatory networks. Key Points Negative feedback of alternative splicing maintains cellular homeostasis. Positive feedback of alternative splicing triggers cellular state transitions. Alternative splicing forms integrated feedback networks with circRNAs and microRNAs to reciprocally regulate their expression and function. The coordinated interplay of distinct splicing feedback mechanisms orchestrates precise cell fate transitions. Future directions and therapeutic possibilities that could transform alternative splicing research into treatments.
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spelling doaj-art-224f5376aa19465686647c8a73549c072025-08-20T03:32:15ZengWileyClinical and Translational Medicine2001-13262025-06-01156n/an/a10.1002/ctm2.70369Splicing to keep splicing: A feedback system for cellular homeostasis and state transitionZhonghao Guo0Xurui Zhang1Yachen Li2Yule Chen3Yungang Xu4Department of Urology the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an ChinaDepartment of Cell Biology and Genetics School of Basic Medical Sciences Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center Xi'an ChinaDepartment of Cell Biology and Genetics School of Basic Medical Sciences Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center Xi'an ChinaDepartment of Urology the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an ChinaDepartment of Urology the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an ChinaABSTRACT Background Alternative splicing (AS) plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and governing proteomic diversity by generating multiple protein isoforms from a single gene. Increasing evidence has highlighted the regulation for pre‐mRNA splicing of the splicing factors (SFs). This review aims to examine featured mechanisms and examples of SF regulation by AS, focusing on paradigmatic feedback loops and their biological implications. Main Body of the Abstract We specifically focus on the autoregulation and inter‐regulation of SFs through AS machinery. These interactions give rise to a feedback system, where the negative feedback loops aid in maintaining cellular homeostasis, and the positive feedback loops play roles in triggering cellular state transitions. We examine the growing evidence highlighting the specific mechanisms employed by SFs to autoregulate their own splicing, including AS‐coupled nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay (AS‐NMD), nuclear retention, and alternative 3'UTR regulation. We showcase the influence of AS feedback in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and cancer. Furthermore, we discuss how master splicing factors can dominantly orchestrate splicing cascades, leading to widespread impacts in cellular processes. We also discuss how non‐coding RNAs, particularly circular RNAs and microRNAs, engage in the splicing regulatory networks. Lastly, we showcase how negative and positive feedback loops can collaboratively achieve remarkable biological functions during the cell fate decision. Short Conclusion This review highlights the regulation of SFs by AS, providing enriched information for future investigations that aim at deciphering the intricate interplay within splicing regulatory networks. Key Points Negative feedback of alternative splicing maintains cellular homeostasis. Positive feedback of alternative splicing triggers cellular state transitions. Alternative splicing forms integrated feedback networks with circRNAs and microRNAs to reciprocally regulate their expression and function. The coordinated interplay of distinct splicing feedback mechanisms orchestrates precise cell fate transitions. Future directions and therapeutic possibilities that could transform alternative splicing research into treatments.https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.70369alternative splicingautoregulationfeedbacknon‐coding RNAs
spellingShingle Zhonghao Guo
Xurui Zhang
Yachen Li
Yule Chen
Yungang Xu
Splicing to keep splicing: A feedback system for cellular homeostasis and state transition
Clinical and Translational Medicine
alternative splicing
autoregulation
feedback
non‐coding RNAs
title Splicing to keep splicing: A feedback system for cellular homeostasis and state transition
title_full Splicing to keep splicing: A feedback system for cellular homeostasis and state transition
title_fullStr Splicing to keep splicing: A feedback system for cellular homeostasis and state transition
title_full_unstemmed Splicing to keep splicing: A feedback system for cellular homeostasis and state transition
title_short Splicing to keep splicing: A feedback system for cellular homeostasis and state transition
title_sort splicing to keep splicing a feedback system for cellular homeostasis and state transition
topic alternative splicing
autoregulation
feedback
non‐coding RNAs
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.70369
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AT xuruizhang splicingtokeepsplicingafeedbacksystemforcellularhomeostasisandstatetransition
AT yachenli splicingtokeepsplicingafeedbacksystemforcellularhomeostasisandstatetransition
AT yulechen splicingtokeepsplicingafeedbacksystemforcellularhomeostasisandstatetransition
AT yungangxu splicingtokeepsplicingafeedbacksystemforcellularhomeostasisandstatetransition