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The alternative polyadenylation is a major type of polyadenylation process. Please read the whole notes and the main notes of polyadenylation for better understanding.
The brief description of alternative polyadenylation:
In mRNAs of some protein-coding genes, the addition of poly-A tail occurs at one of the several possible sites. These protein-coding genes have more than one polyadenylation site, so a gene can code for several mRNAs that differ in the position of poly-A tail. This process is referred to as alternative polyadenylation.
The result of the phenomenone:
This process causes the formation of more than one transcript from a single gene.
The example of the phenomenon:
One common example of the process occurs during the development of B-lymphocytes.
Description:
During development, the synthesis of antibody molecule switches from membrane-bound forms to secreted forms. The difference is due to a switch from one polyadenylation site to another in pre-mRNAs. This results in a shorter antibody molecule, lacking hydrophobic membrane-spanning part at the C-terminal ends of the heavy chains.
The link of the Suggestive journal of this topic with the diagram are provided here:
Other related notes:
- 5′ capping: https://thebiologyislove.com/5-capping/
- Polyadenylation: https://thebiologyislove.com/polyadenylation/
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