Co-transcriptional splicing: Distinct phases, mutual benefits, and basis for nuclear architecture

Co-transcriptional splicing is the process by which splicing takes place on nascent RNA before transcription terminates. Imaging- and sequencing-based technologies have revealed co-transcriptional splicing in eukaryotes, but more interesting questions arise about the mechanisms mediating such a process and its functional impact. This forum article summarizes recent advances in understanding co-transcriptional splicing.