Open AccessAlternative Splicing of the SLCO1B1 Gene: An Exploratory Analysis of Isoform Diversity in Pediatric Liver
Author(s) -
Groen Bianca D.,
Bi Chengpeng,
Gaedigk Roger,
Staggs Vincent S.,
Tibboel Dick,
Wildt Saskia N.,
Leeder J. Steven
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and translational science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.303
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1752-8062
pISSN - 1752-8054
DOI - 10.1111/cts.12733
Subject(s) - slco1b1 , alternative splicing , rna splicing , biology , gene isoform , splice , gene , intron , computational biology , genetics , bioinformatics , single nucleotide polymorphism , genotype , rna
The hepatic influx transporter OATP1B1 (SLCO1B1) plays an important role in the disposition of endogenous substrates and drugs prescribed to children. Alternative splicing increases the diversity of protein products from > 90% of human genes and may be triggered by developmental signals. As concentrations of several endogenous OATP1B1 substrates change during growth and development, with this exploratory study we investigated age‐dependent alternative splicing of SLCO1B1 mRNA in 97 postmortem livers (fetus‐adolescents). Twenty‐seven splice variants were detected; 10 were confirmed by additional bioinformatic analyses and verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and selected for detailed analysis based on relative abundance, association with age, and overlap with an adjacent gene. Two splice variants code for reference OATP1B1 protein, and eight code for truncated proteins. The expression of eight isoforms was associated with age. We conclude that alternative splicing of SLCO1B1 occurs frequently in children; although the functional consequences remain unknown, the data raise the possibility of a regulatory role for alternative splicing in mediating developmental changes in drug disposition.