The transcription factor E2F1 has a key function during S phase progression and 
apoptosis. It has been well-demonstrated that the apoptotic function of E2F1 
involves its ability to transactivate pro-apoptotic target genes. Alternative 
splicing of pre-mRNAs also has an important function in the regulation of 
apoptosis. In this study, we identify the splicing factor SC35, a member of the 
Ser-Rich Arg (SR) proteins family, as a new transcriptional target of E2F1. We 
demonstrate that E2F1 requires SC35 to switch the alternative splicing profile 
of various apoptotic genes such as c-flip, caspases-8 and -9 and Bcl-x, towards 
the expression of pro-apoptotic splice variants. Finally, we provide evidence 
that E2F1 upregulates SC35 in response to DNA-damaging agents and show that SC35 
is required for apoptosis in response to these drugs. Taken together, these 
results demonstrate that E2F1 controls pre-mRNA processing events to induce 
apoptosis and identify the SC35 SR protein as a key direct E2F1-target in this 
setting.