Specialization of the photoreceptor transcriptome by Srrm3-dependent microexons is required for outer segment maintenance and vision.

ABSTRACT: Retinal photoreceptors have a distinct transcriptomic profile compared to other neuronal subtypes, likely reflecting their unique cellular morphology and function in the detection of light stimuli by way of the ciliary outer segment. We discovered a layer of this molecular specialization by revealing that the vertebrate retina expresses the largest number of tissue-enriched microexons of all tissue types. A subset of these microexons is included exclusively in photoreceptor transcripts, particularly in genes involved in cilia biogenesis and vesicle-mediated transport. This microexon program is regulated by Srrm3, a paralog of the neural microexon regulator Srrm4. Despite the fact that both proteins positively regulate retina microexons in vitro, only Srrm3 is highly ex

SUBMITTER: Ciampi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9303857 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature