Figure 4.

Aging-related cryptic exons. Schematic representation of cryptic exons activated by loss of TDP-43. For UNC13A gene, two alternative acceptor splice sites can be activated, causing the insertion of 128 bp or 178 bp cryptic exons. The exons immediately upstream and downstream of the cryptic exons are shown with the corresponding number. Yellow box: constitutive exon; solid line: intron; dotted lines: alternative splicing patterns; gray box: cryptic exon (CE); red point: the position of the putative TDP-43 binding site within the in-between intron.