mRNA 5′ ends targeted by cytoplasmic recapping cluster at CAGE tags and select transcripts are alternatively spliced

Until cytoplasmic recapping was discovered, decapping was thought to irreversibly destine an mRNA to degradation. Contradicting this idea, we readily observe mRNAs targeted by cytoplasmic capping in uncapped, yet stable forms. 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) shows that nearly all uncapped ends correspond to capped analysis of gene expression tags and that the recapping of ZNF207 mRNA may be restricted to a single splice isoform. Here, a modified RACE approach detected uncapped 5′ RNA ends mapping to 46 mRNAs in cells expressing a dominant negative cytoplasmic capping enzyme and in normal cells. Eleven of 46 cloned mRNAs also contained splice isoform‐limiting sequences. Collectively, these data reinforce earlier work and suggest that alternative splicing may play a role in targeting transcripts for – and/or determining the position of – cytoplasmic capping.