Module 4 Instructor Resources

Lesson Plan

Title

  • Removal of introns from messenger RNA by splicing

Objectives

  • Identify splice donor and acceptor sites that are best supported by RNA-Seq and TopHat splice junction predictions
  • Utilize the canonical splice donor and splice acceptor sequences to identify intron-exon boundaries.

Pre-requisites

Order

  • Review mRNA processing; Investigation 1
  • Define isoform
  • Introduce consensus sequences; Investigation 2
  • Discuss pre-mRNA vs. mRNA
  • Explore how to find exon-intron junction using tra-RA as the example; Investigation 3

Homework

  • Students will identify intron-exon junctions for spd-2-RA

Class Instruction

  • Review pre-mRNA processing using appropriate figures from the textbook or Module 3
  • Investigation 1: Students familiarize themselves with RNA-Seq data
  • Review consensus sequences for splice donor and splice acceptor sites
  • Investigation 2: Students find splice donor and acceptor for intron 1
  • Review RNA splicing of intron 1 using tra-RA as the example
  • Investigation 3: Students find remaining splice donor and splice acceptor for intron 2
  • Discuss length of pre-mRNA vs. length of spliced mRNA
  • Identify isoforms with different TSSs, or alternative splicing patterns