LETTER

Minimal Introns Are Not “Junk”

Published August 1, 2002. Vol 12 Issue 8, pp. 1185-1189. https://doi.org/10.1101/gr.224602
Download PDF Please log-in to or register for your personal account in order to access PDF Cite Article Permissions Share
cover of Genome Research Vol 36 Issue 4
Current Issue:

Abstract

Intron-size distributions for most multicellular (and some unicellular) eukaryotes have a sharp peak at their “minimal intron” size. Across the human population, these minimal introns exhibit an abundance of insertion-deletion polymorphisms, the effect of which is to maintain their optimal size. We argue that minimal introns affect function by enhancing the rate at which mRNA is exported from the cell nucleus.

Loading
Loading
Back to top