Alternative splicing in common bean

The post-genomic era lead to the discovery of alternative splicing in eukaryotes (plants and animals). Splicing of introns from a pre-mRNAs transcribed from a single eukaryotic gene can be regulated by different factors and so generate alternative spliced transcripts or isoforms. The analysis of the great complexity at the transcriptional level generated by alternative splicing in legumes has only begun. Based in our common bean transcriptome data we are analyzing the alternative splicing in this legume (collaboration with S. Jackson, U. Georgia). The analysis of isoforms in bean nodules as compared to roots or other organs may reveal important regulatory processes for nodule development or function.