RNA alternative splicing (AS) is prevalent in higher organisms and plays a paramount role in biology; therefore, it is crucial to have comprehensive knowledge on AS to understand biology. However, knowledge is limited about how AS activates in a single plant and functions in a biological process. Ginseng is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs that is abundant in a number of medicinal bioactive components, especially ginsenosides. In this study, we sequenced the transcripts of 14 organs from a 4-year-old ginseng plant and quantified their ginsenoside contents. We identified AS genes by analyzing their transcripts with the ginseng genome and verified their AS events by PCR. The plant had a total of 13,863 AS genes subjected to 30,801 AS events with five mechanisms: skipped exon, retained intron, alternative 5′splice site, alternative 3′ splice site, and mutually exclusive exon. The genes that were more conserved, had more exons, and/or expressed across organs were more likely to be subjected to AS. AS genes were enriched in over 500 GO terms in the plant even though the number of AS gene-enriched GO terms varied across organs. At least 24 AS genes were found to be involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis. These AS genes were significantly up-enriched and more likely to form a co-expression network, thus suggesting the functions of AS and correlations of the AS genes in the process. This study provides comprehensive insights into the molecular characteristics and biological functions of AS in a single plant; thus, helping better understand biology.

RNA替代剪接（AS）在高等生物中很普遍，在生物学中起着至关重要的作用。因此，拥有全面的AS知识以了解生物学至关重要。然而，关于AS如何在单个植物中激活以及如何在生物过程中起作用的知识是有限的。人参是最广泛使用的草药之一，富含许多生物活性成分，尤其是人参皂甙。在这项研究中，我们对来自4岁人参植物的14种器官的转录本进行了测序，并对它们的人参皂苷含量进行了定量。我们通过与人参基因组分析其转录本来鉴定AS基因，并通过PCR验证其AS事件。该植物共有13863个AS基因，经历了30801个AS事件，并具有五种机制：跳跃外显子，保留的内含子，替代5'剪接位点，3'剪接位点和互斥的外显子。更加保守，具有更多外显子和/或在器官间表达的基因更可能遭受AS。即使植物中富含AS基因的GO术语的数量因器官而异，但AS基因却在植物中富集了500多个GO术语。发现至少有24个AS基因参与人参皂苷的生物合成。这些AS基因显着富集，更可能形成共表达网络，从而暗示了AS的功能以及AS基因在此过程中的相关性。这项研究提供了对单个植物中AS的分子特征和生物学功能的全面见解；因此，有助于更好地了解生物学。和/或跨器官表达的人更容易遭受AS。即使植物中富含AS基因的GO术语的数量因器官而异，但AS基因却在植物中富集了500多个GO术语。发现至少有24个AS基因参与人参皂苷的生物合成。这些AS基因显着富集，更可能形成共表达网络，从而暗示了AS的功能以及AS基因在此过程中的相关性。这项研究提供了对单个植物中AS的分子特征和生物学功能的全面见解；因此，有助于更好地了解生物学。和/或跨器官表达的人更容易遭受AS。即使植物中富含AS基因的GO术语的数量因器官而异，但AS基因却在植物中富集了500多个GO术语。发现至少有24个AS基因参与人参皂苷的生物合成。这些AS基因显着富集，更可能形成共表达网络，从而暗示了AS的功能以及AS基因在此过程中的相关性。这项研究提供了对单个植物中AS的分子特征和生物学功能的全面见解；因此，有助于更好地了解生物学。发现至少有24个AS基因参与人参皂苷的生物合成。这些AS基因显着富集，更可能形成共表达网络，从而暗示了AS的功能以及AS基因在此过程中的相关性。这项研究提供了对单个植物中AS的分子特征和生物学功能的全面见解；因此，有助于更好地了解生物学。发现至少有24个AS基因参与人参皂苷的生物合成。这些AS基因显着富集，更可能形成共表达网络，从而暗示了AS的功能以及AS基因在此过程中的相关性。这项研究提供了对单个植物中AS的分子特征和生物学功能的全面见解；因此，有助于更好地了解生物学。