{
  "abstract": "Gene complementation is a powerful tool for genetic selection and protein functional studies but typically requires extensive screening for complementary components. Here we engineered a platform for gene complementation based on RNA end-joining (REJ) that precisely and efficiently splices separate RNA units into functional coding mRNAs. REJ is mediated by short structured modular RNA segments of ~250bp that: (a) promote RNA::RNA interaction, (b) coopt the intrinsic cell splicing machinery to facilitate RNA trans-splicing, (c) minimizes translation of protein fragments from un-spliced RNA segments, and (d) encodes scar-free protein. We demonstrate that REJ is a broadly applicable system that can reliably split nearly any gene into complementary segments regardless of protein structure. To enable the use of this system we provide a toolbox of reporters and a web-based design tool to facilitate vector design. Demonstrated REJ applications include genetic complementation, intersectional labeling of cell types, and efficient expression of large proteins.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Salk Institute for Biological Studies"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 12,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "L. C. Bachmann"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. H. Hsu"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. J. Hermann"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. E. Williams"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. L. Farman"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. Criales"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Clark"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Kramer"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Thorn Perez"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Randles"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. Lettieri"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "S. L. Pfaff"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/apc54r9qbyb9a.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.13.751279",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.13.751279v1.full",
  "id": "apc54r9qbyb9a",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.13.751279v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "molecular biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|RNA Research and Splicing"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213254964",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.13.751279v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-13",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/apc54r9qbyb9a.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:26Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.13.751279",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.13.751279v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "biorxiv:molecular biology",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "An intersectional expression platform for gene complementation using RNA-fragment end joining (REJ)",
  "title_text": "An intersectional expression platform for gene complementation using RNA-fragment end joining (REJ)",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:26Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/apc54r9qbyb9a",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}