U1 snRNP-dependent function of TIAR in the regulation of alternative RNA processing of the human calcitonin/CGRP pre-mRNA

Fas-activated serine/threonine kinase (FAST K) synergizes with TIA-1/TIAR proteins to regulate Fas alternative splicing

The factors and mechanisms that mediate the effects of intracellular signaling cascades on alternative pre-mRNA splicing are poorly understood. TIA-1 (T-cell intracellular antigen 1) and TIAR (TIA-1-related) proteins regulate alternative pre-mRNA splicing by promoting the use of suboptimal 5' splice sites followed by uridine-rich intronic enhancer sequences. These proteins promote, for example, inclusion of Fas receptor exon 6, which leads to an mRNA encoding a pro-apoptotic form of the receptor at the expense of the form that skips exon 6, which encodes an anti-apoptotic form. Fas-activated serine/threonine kinase (FAST K) is known to interact with and phosphorylate TIA-1. Here we have tested the possibility that FAST K influences alternative pre-mRNA splicing by affecting the activity of TIA-1/TIAR. Depletion of FAST K form Jurkat cells leads to skipping of exon 6 from endogenous Fas transcripts. Conversely, FAST K overexpression enhances exon 6 inclusion of Fas reporters transfected in HeLa cells. Consistent with the possibility that the effects of FAST K are mediated by changes in the function of TIA-1/TIAR, the effects of FAST K overexpression (i) are largely suppressed by depletion of TIA-1 and TIAR and (ii) are significantly compromised by mutation of a TIA-1/TIAR-responsive enhancer present downstream of exon 6 5' splice site. Furthermore, in vitro phosphorylation of TIA-1 by FAST K results in enhanced U1 snRNP recruitment. Interestingly, this enhancement is not due to increased binding of TIA-1 to the pre-mRNA. Taken together, the results connect Fas signaling with the activity of splicing factors that modulate Fas alternative splicing, suggesting the existence of an autoregulatory loop that could serve to amplify Fas responses.

Hu proteins regulate polyadenylation by blocking sites containing U-rich sequences

A recent genome-wide bioinformatic analysis indicated that 54% of human genes undergo alternative polyadenylation. Although it is clear that differential selection of poly(A) sites can alter gene expression, resulting in significant biological consequences, the mechanisms that regulate polyadenylation are poorly understood. Here we report that the neuron-specific members of a family of RNA-binding proteins, Hu proteins, known to regulate mRNA stability and translation in the cytoplasm, play an important role in polyadenylation regulation. Hu proteins are homologs of the Drosophila embryonic lethal abnormal visual protein and contain three RNA recognition motifs. Using an in vitro polyadenylation assay with HeLa cell nuclear extract and recombinant Hu proteins, we have shown that Hu proteins selectively block both cleavage and poly(A) addition at sites containing U-rich sequences. Hu proteins have no effect on poly(A) sites that do not contain U-rich sequences or sites in which the U-rich sequences are mutated. All three RNA recognition motifs of Hu proteins are required for this activity. Overexpression of HuR in HeLa cells also blocks polyadenylation at a poly(A) signal that contains U-rich sequences. Hu proteins block the interaction between the polyadenylation cleavage stimulation factor 64-kDa subunit and RNA most likely through direct interaction with poly(A) cleavage stimulation factor 64-kDa subunit and cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 160-kDa subunit. These studies identify a novel group of mammalian polyadenylation regulators. Furthermore, they define a previously unknown nuclear function of Hu proteins.

An exonic splicing silencer represses spliceosome assembly after ATP-dependent exon recognition

Precursor messenger RNA splicing is catalyzed by the spliceosome, a macromolecular complex that assembles in a stepwise process. The spliceosome's dynamic nature suggests the potential for regulation at numerous points along the assembly pathway; however, thus far, naturally occurring regulation of splicing has only been found to influence a small subset of spliceosomal intermediates. Here we report that the exonic splicing silencer (ESS1) that represses splicing of PTPRC (encoding CD45) exon 4 does not function by the typical mechanism of inhibiting binding of U1 or U2 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) to the splice sites. Instead, a U1-, U2- and ATP-dependent complex forms across exon 4 that is required for inhibiting progression to the U4-U6-U5 tri-snRNP-containing B complex. Such inhibition represents a new mechanism for splicing regulation and suggests that regulation can probably occur at many of the transitions along the spliceosome assembly pathway.

RS domains contact splicing signals and promote splicing by a common mechanism in yeast through humans

Serine-arginine (SR) proteins are general metazoan splicing factors that contain an essential arginine-serine-rich (RS) domain. We have previously found that mammalian spliceosome assembly involves a series of sequential interactions between RS domains and two splicing signals: the branchpoint and the 5' splice site. Here we study how RS domains are directed to specifically contact splicing signals, and how this interaction promotes splicing. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacks SR proteins. However, we show that tethering a mammalian RS domain to a yeast actin pre-mRNA rescues splicing of certain branchpoint or 5' splice site mutants in which U snRNA base-pairing has been decreased. Conversely, on a mammalian pre-mRNA, a normally essential SR protein becomes dispensable when the complementarity of a splicing signal to a U snRNA is increased. We find that in the absence of other splicing factors an RS domain tethered to a pre-mRNA selectively contacts a double-stranded RNA region and enhances RNA-RNA base-pairing. Significantly, all of these activities require phosphorylation of the RS domain. Based on these results, we propose that RS domains selectively contact splicing signals because, due to transient U snRNA base-pairing, they are partially double-stranded. The RS domain-splicing signal interaction, in turn, promotes (or stabilizes) base-pairing between the U snRNA and pre-mRNA substrate, thereby enhancing splicing. Our results reveal a common mechanism of RS domain function in yeast through humans.

Identification of FUSE-binding proteins as interacting partners of TIA proteins

TIA-1 and TIAR are closely related RNA-binding proteins involved in several mechanisms of RNA metabolism, including alternative hnRNA splicing and mRNA translation regulation. In particular, TIA-1 represses tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mRNA translation by binding to the AU-rich element (ARE) present in the mRNA 3' untranslated region. Here, we demonstrate that TIA proteins interact with FUSE-binding proteins (FBPs) and that fbp genes are co-expressed with tia genes during Xenopus embryogenesis. FBPs participate in various steps of RNA processing and degradation. In Cos cells, FBPs co-localize with TIA proteins in the nucleus and migrate into TIA-enriched cytoplasmic granules upon oxidative stress. Overexpression of FBP2-KH3 RNA-binding domain fused to EGFP induces the specific sequestration of TIA proteins in cytoplasmic foci, thereby precluding their nuclear accumulation. In cytosolic RAW 264.7 macrophage extracts, FBPs are found associated in EMSA to the TIA-1/TNF-ARE complex. Together, our results indicate that TIA and FBP proteins may thus be relevant biological involved in common events of RNA metabolism occurring both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

Identification of the sequence determinants mediating the nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of TIAR and TIA-1 RNA-binding proteins

TIAR and TIA-1 are two closely related RNA-binding proteins which possess three RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) followed by an auxiliary region. These proteins are involved in several mechanisms of RNA metabolism, including alternative hnRNA splicing and regulation of mRNA translation. Here we characterize the subcellular localization of these proteins in somatic cells. We demonstrate that TIAR and TIA-1 continuously shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus and belong to the class of RNA-binding proteins whose nuclear import is transcription-dependent. We identified RRM2 and the first half of the auxiliary region as important determinants for TIAR and TIA-1 nuclear accumulation. In contrast, the nuclear export of TIAR and TIA-1 is mediated by RRM3. Both RRMs contribute to TIAR and TIA-1 nuclear accumulation or export by their RNA-binding capacity. Indeed, whereas mutations of the highly conserved RNP2 or RNP1 peptides in RRM2 redistribute TIAR to the cytoplasm, similar modifications in RRM3 abolish TIAR nuclear export. Moreover, TIAR and TIA-1 nuclear accumulation is a Ran-GTP-dependent pathway, in contrast to its nuclear export which is unaffected by Ran-GTP depletion and which is independent of the major CRM1-exporting pathway. This study demonstrates the importance of TIAR and TIA-1 RNA-binding domains for their subcellular localization and provides the first evidence for distinct functions of TIAR and TIA-1 RRMs.

Regulation of Fas alternative splicing by antagonistic effects of TIA-1 and PTB on exon definition

Fas exon 6 can be included or skipped to generate mRNAs encoding, respectively, a membrane bound form of the receptor that promotes apoptosis or a soluble isoform that prevents programmed cell death. We report that the apoptosis-inducing protein TIA-1 promotes U1 snRNP binding to the 5' splice site of intron 6, which in turn facilitates exon definition by enhancing U2AF binding to the 3' splice site of intron 5. The polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB) promotes exon skipping by binding to an exonic splicing silencer and inhibiting the association of U2AF and U2 snRNP with the upstream 3' splice site, without affecting recognition of the downstream 5' splice site by U1. Remarkably, U1 snRNP-mediated recognition of the 5' splice site is required both for efficient U2AF binding and for U2AF inhibition by PTB. We propose that TIA-1 and PTB regulate Fas splicing and possibly Fas-mediated apoptosis by targeting molecular events that lead to exon definition.

Understanding alternative splicing: towards a cellular code

In violation of the 'one gene, one polypeptide' rule, alternative splicing allows individual genes to produce multiple protein isoforms - thereby playing a central part in generating complex proteomes. Alternative splicing also has a largely hidden function in quantitative gene control, by targeting RNAs for nonsense-mediated decay. Traditional gene-by-gene investigations of alternative splicing mechanisms are now being complemented by global approaches. These promise to reveal details of the nature and operation of cellular codes that are constituted by combinations of regulatory elements in pre-mRNA substrates and by cellular complements of splicing regulators, which together determine regulated splicing pathways.

Regulation of Apoptosis by Alternative Pre-mRNA Splicing

Apoptosis, a phenomenon that allows the regulated destruction and disposal of damaged or unwanted cells, is common to many cellular processes in multicellular organisms. In humans more than 200 proteins are involved in apoptosis, many of which are dysregulated or defective in human diseases including cancer. A large number of apoptotic factors are regulated via alternative splicing, a process that allows for the production of discrete protein isoforms with often distinct functions from a common mRNA precursor. The abundance of apoptosis genes that are alternatively spliced and the often antagonistic roles of the generated protein isoforms strongly imply that alternative splicing is a crucial mechanism for regulating life and death decisions. Importantly, modulation of isoform production of cell death proteins via pharmaceutical manipulation of alternative splicing may open up new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of disease.

Stress granule assembly is mediated by prion-like aggregation of TIA-1

TIA-1 is an RNA binding protein that promotes the assembly of stress granules (SGs), discrete cytoplasmic inclusions into which stalled translation initiation complexes are dynamically recruited in cells subjected to environmental stress. The RNA recognition motifs of TIA-1 are linked to a glutamine-rich prion-related domain (PRD). Truncation mutants lacking the PRD domain do not induce spontaneous SGs and are not recruited to arsenite-induced SGs, whereas the PRD forms aggregates that are recruited to SGs in low-level-expressing cells but prevent SG assembly in high-level-expressing cells. The PRD of TIA-1 exhibits many characteristics of prions: concentration-dependent aggregation that is inhibited by the molecular chaperone heat shock protein (HSP)70; resistance to protease digestion; sequestration of HSP27, HSP40, and HSP70; and induction of HSP70, a feedback regulator of PRD disaggregation. Substitution of the PRD with the aggregation domain of a yeast prion, SUP35-NM, reconstitutes SG assembly, confirming that a prion domain can mediate the assembly of SGs. Mouse embryomic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking TIA-1 exhibit impaired ability to form SGs, although they exhibit normal phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)2alpha in response to arsenite. Our results reveal that prion-like aggregation of TIA-1 regulates SG formation downstream of eIF2alpha phosphorylation in response to stress.

A Pathway of Sequential Arginine-Serine-Rich Domain-Splicing Signal Interactions during Mammalian Spliceosome Assembly

Serine-arginine (SR) proteins are general splicing factors and can function through binding to exonic splicing enhancers (ESEs). SR proteins and several other mammalian splicing factors contain an arginine-serine-rich (RS) domain required to promote splicing. We have recently found that the ESE bound RS domain functions by contacting the branchpoint. Here, we perform RNA-protein crosslinking experiments to show that the branchpoint is sequentially contacted first in complex E by the RS domain of the essential splicing factor U2AF(65) and then in the prespliceosome by the ESE bound RS domain. Although the ESE bound RS domain can promote formation of the prespliceosome, at least one additional SR protein is required for complete spliceosome assembly. We show that the RS domain of this additional SR protein contacts the 5' splice site specifically in the mature spliceosome. We propose that direct contact with splicing signals is a general mechanism by which RS domains promote splicing.