Modeling of the U1 snRNP assembly pathway in alternative splicing in human cells using Petri nets

The investigation of spliceosomal processes is currently a topic of intense research in molecular biology. In the molecular mechanism of alternative splicing, a multi-protein–RNA complex – the spliceosome – plays a crucial role. To understand the biological processes of alternative splicing, it is essential to comprehend the biogenesis of the spliceosome. In this paper, we propose the first abstract model of the regulatory assembly pathway of the human spliceosomal subunit U1. Using Petri nets, we describe its highly ordered assembly that takes place in a stepwise manner.