Genome-wide analysis of alternative splicing associated with the transcription factor StuA in Trichophyton rubrum.

Absence of StuA in Trichophyton rubrum is linked to stage-specific changes in 104 alternative splicing events affecting pathogenesis-related genes.

• Why it matters: Understanding how transcription factors like StuA regulate alternative splicing is crucial for revealing mechanisms of dermatophyte infection and keratin metabolism, which are key to pathogenicity.
• What they did: The study used high-throughput RNA-sequencing and the ASpli package to compare wild-type and ΔstuA strains cultivated in keratin-containing medium, identifying differential AS in 104 genes.
• The result: Findings suggest StuA modulates alternative splicing, especially in genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, regulation, and transmembrane transport, supporting its role in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation during growth.