Splicing refers to the processing of mRNA, in the nucleus, after The AR Transcription Factor binds to the template strand and the RNA-polymerase moves down the template constructing the "precursor" mRNA.
Since the AR variant 7 is referred to as a splice variant, this means it is not related to a mutation of the AR gene itself, but to its processing (editing).
Does this provide any clue?
It almost seems as if section 7 (the DNA Binding Domain) is specifically deleted, but the later sections farther along the template strand are retained. This seems to be not at all random, but I assume a normal part of an evolutionarily developed survival technique, or reaction to local conditions in the nucleus. (It has to be conditions in the nucleus, because that is where this is taking place).
Martin001
3 Replies
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Wikipedia has a page on alternative splicing. Apparently it is common.
Hello again. I was interested in reading bout splicing and it is a little over my head. Splicing is believed to be the origin of cancer and birth defects. You have to remember that millions of cells reproduce normally and these are the problems that occur (one in a million). So these problems (once understood) may cure cancer. So a lot of time and energy is spent on splice variants and how they occur. Unfortunately we can only speculate at this time. I think you are wondering why a cell becomes cancerous. All prostate cells (cancerous or normal) have a section on the cell wall that is responsive to androgens (AR). A message is sent to the nucleus to reproduce. So why do cells suddenly change and form cancer cells? It is because of these types of splicing. But how to control this from happening is the answer of the century. So many of these spliced cells do not survive and do not reproduce. So scientists are finding out what is in common with all cancers and why they do not just die off and why two different humans have similar cancers. It could be radiation or fertilizers or pesticides or any number of environmental causes. Good food for thought, I wish I had a billion dollars to figure it out.
You say "I think you are wondering why a cell becomes cancerous."
No it's a more specific question than that.
You say "You have to remember that millions of cells reproduce normally"
I don't think it is a question of a "copying error". Splice variants apparently occur all the time as part of the normal cell biology. (cf the wikipedia article!)
You say "All prostate cells have a section on the cell wall that is responsive to androgens (AR)." Possibly, but the ones in the cytoplasm, the Transcription Factors, as they are called, seem to be the important ones.
You say we can only speculate, and then you speculate, which is fine, but we know more now than we used to. Like what "splicing" is.
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