Table 4

Distribution and modalities of trans-splicing among metazoans

Phylum: species

Trans-splicing

Percent trans-spliced genes

Number of SL forms

Operons

Percent genes in operons

References

Cnidaria: Hydra vulgaris

+

Very few*

2

?

NA

[85]

Urochordata (tunicate): Ciona intestinalis

+

~2%*

1

+

~2%

[61]

Chætognatha: Spadella cephaloptera; Flaccisagitta enflata

+

~55%

2*

+

ND

This study

Acoela: Convoluta pulchra

+

>5%

1

?

ND

This study

Rotifera: Adineta ricciae; Philodina sp.

+

ND

1

ND

ND

[37]

Platyhelminth: Schistosoma mansoni; seven more species^‡

+

>3%^†

1-2

+

ND

[60,62]

Nematoda: Caenothabditis elegans

+

~50%

2

+

~20%

[58,59]

*This figure was obtained by the analysis of a sample of several cDNA libraries sequenced from the 5' end. ^†This figure was obtained from 3' end sequenced cDNA libraries and may be greatly underestimated. ^‡For a precise list of these species see [62]. NA, not applicable; ND, not determined.

Marlétaz et al. Genome Biology 2008 9:R94   doi:10.1186/gb-2008-9-6-r94