Structure of late adenovirus 2 heterogeneous nuclear RNA

The Cajal body protein p80-coilin forms a complex with the adenovirus L4-22K protein and facilitates the nuclear export of adenovirus mRNA

IMPORTANCE

The architecture of sub-nuclear structures of eucaryotic cells is often changed during the infectious cycle of many animal and plant viruses. Cajal bodies (CBs) form a major sub-nuclear structure whose functions may include the regulation of cellular RNA metabolism. During the lifecycle of human adenovirus 5 (Ad5), CBs are reorganized from their spherical-like structure into smaller clusters termed microfoci. The mechanism of this reorganization and its significance for virus replication has yet to be established. Here we show that the major CB protein, p80-coilin, facilitates the nuclear export of Ad5 transcripts. Depletion of p80-coilin by RNA interference led to lowered levels of viral proteins and infectious virus. p80-coilin was found to form a complex with the viral L4-22K protein in Ad5-infected cells and in some reorganized microfoci. These findings assign a new role for p80-coilin as a potential regulator of infection by a human DNA virus.

Lessons learned from adenovirus (1970-2019)

Animal viruses are well recognized for their ability to uncover fundamental cell and molecular processes, and adenovirus certainly provides a prime example. This review illustrates the lessons learned from studying adenovirus over the past five decades. We take a look back at the key studies of adenovirus structure and biophysical properties, which revealed the mechanisms of adenovirus association with antibody, cell receptor, and immune molecules that regulate infection. In addition, we discuss the critical contribution of studies of adenovirus gene expression to elucidation of fundamental reactions in pre-mRNA processing and its regulation. Other pioneering studies furnished the first examples of protein-primed initiation of DNA synthesis and viral small RNAs. As a nonenveloped virus, adenoviruses have furnished insights into the modes of virus attachment, entry, and penetration of host cells, and we discuss the diversity of cell receptors that support these processes, as well as membrane penetration. As a result of these extensive studies, adenovirus vectors were among the first to be developed for therapeutic applications. We highlight some of the early (unsuccessful) trials and the lessons learned from them.

Reflections on the history of pre-mRNA processing and highlights of current knowledge: a unified picture

Several strong conclusions emerge concerning pre-mRNA processing from both old and newer experiments. The RNAPII complex is involved with pre-mRNA processing through binding of processing proteins to the CTD (carboxyl terminal domain) of the largest RNAPII subunit. These interactions are necessary for efficient processing, but whether factor binding to the CTD and delivery to splicing sites is obligatory or facilitatory is unsettled. Capping, addition of an m(7)Gppp residue (cap) to the initial transcribed residue of a pre-mRNA, occurs within seconds. Splicing of pre-mRNA by spliceosomes at particular sites is most likely committed during transcription by the binding of initiating processing factors and ∼50% of the time is completed in mammalian cells before completion of the primary transcript. This fact has led to an outpouring in the literature about "cotranscriptional splicing." However splicing requires several minutes for completion and can take longer. The RNAPII complex moves through very long introns and also through regions dense with alternating exons and introns at an average rate of ∼3 kb per min and is, therefore, not likely detained at each splice site for more than a few seconds, if at all. Cleavage of the primary transcript at the 3' end and polyadenylation occurs within 30 sec or less at recognized polyA sites, and the majority of newly polyadenylated pre-mRNA molecules are much larger than the average mRNA. Finally, it seems quite likely that the nascent RNA most often remains associated with the chromosomal locus being transcribed until processing is complete, possibly acquiring factors related to the transport of the new mRNA to the cytoplasm.

Spliced exons of adenovirus late RNAs colocalize with snRNP in a specific nuclear domain

Posttranscriptional steps in the production of mRNA include well characterized polyadenylation and splicing reactions, but it is also necessary to understand how RNA is transported within the nucleus from the site of its transcription to the nuclear pore, where it is translocated to the cytoplasmic compartment. Determining the localization of RNA within the nucleus is an important aspect of understanding RNA production and may provide clues for investigating the trafficking of RNA within the nucleus and the mechanism for its export to the cytoplasm. We have previously shown that late phase adenovirus-infected cells contain large clusters of snRNP and non-snRNP splicing factors; the presence of these structures is correlated with high levels of viral late gene transcription. The snRNP clusters correspond to enlarged interchromatin granules present in late phase infected cells. Here we show that polyadenylated RNA and spliced tripartite leader exons from the viral major late transcription unit are present in these same late phase snRNP-containing structures. We find that the majority of the steady state viral RNA present in the nucleus is spliced at the tripartite leader exons. Tripartite leader exons are efficiently exported from the nucleus at a time when we detect their accumulation in interchromatin granule clusters. Since the enlarged interchromatin granules contain spliced and polyadenylated RNA, we suggest that viral RNA may accumulate in this late phase structure during an intranuclear step in RNA transport.

Dynamic organization of splicing factors in adenovirus-infected cells

Adenovirus infection affects the nuclear distribution of host splicing factors. Late phase-infected cells contain discrete clusters of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) that are separate from centers containing the viral 72-kilodalton DNA-binding protein (72K protein). In the present study, we demonstrate that these snRNP clusters also contain splicing factors from the SR protein family. We show that a previously described monoclonal antibody, 3C5, detects SR proteins. Furthermore, we demonstrate that late region 3 transcription occurs at a maximal rate in infected cultures in which greater than 90% of the cells contain the snRNP clusters, indicating that such cells are actively transcribing their late genes. During the onset of the late phase, the intranuclear distribution of splicing factors is very different from that seen after the late phase is established. When late viral transcription commences, cells with snRNP clusters are less prevalent than in cultures that are maintaining maximum levels of late transcription. Instead, a cell type which shows snRNPs, concentrated in foci that also contain the viral 72K DNA-binding protein is detected. This cell type disappears from cultures by 18 to 20 h after a high-multiplicity infection. These results suggest a dynamic organization of splicing factors in infected cells that can be correlated to the status of viral gene expression. Our work also provides an explanation for the differing results that have been published concerning the organization of splicing factors in the adenovirus-infected cell nucleus (L. F. Jiménez-García and D. L. Spector, Cell 73:47-59, 1993). During the present study we observed that a monoclonal antibody against the SC-35 protein, which was used by Jiménez-García and Spector to study the localization of the SC-35 splicing factor in adenovirus-infected cells, cross-reacts with the adenovirus 72K DNA-binding protein and is thus unsuitable for this type of study.

Nuclear organization of splicing small nuclear ribonucleoproteins in adenovirus-infected cells

We have studied the effect of adenovirus infection on the nuclear organization of splicing small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) in HeLa cells. In uninfected HeLa cells, snRNPs are widespread throughout the nucleoplasm but also are concentrated in specific nuclear structures, including coiled bodies, interchromatin granules, and perichromatin fibrils. We have used immunofluorescence microscopy to study the localization of splicing snRNPs relative to centers of viral DNA synthesis and accumulation identified with antiserum against the viral 72,000-molecular-weight single-stranded DNA-binding protein (72K protein). Splicing snRNPs were independently detected with both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific for common snRNP antigens, snRNP-specific proteins, and the snRNA-specific 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine 5' cap structure. We have examined infected cells 2 to 24 h after infection, and, in the majority of these cells, we observed no colocalization of the snRNP and 72K-protein staining patterns. In the late phase, snRNPs were found to markedly concentrate in discrete clusters that were distinct from the centers of viral DNA synthesis and accumulation identified with anti-72K protein. We have treated cells with hydroxyurea at various times after infection to inhibit aspects of the virus infectious program. We have found that the accumulation of snRNP clusters is correlated with late gene expression rather than with DNA synthesis or early gene expression. Finally, we show that the late-phase snRNP clusters colocalize with a monoclonal antibody that primarily stains interchromatin granules. These results suggest that the centers of snRNP concentration in late-phase infected cells are likely to correspond to interchromatin granule clusters.

Posttranscriptional regulation of rat growth hormone gene expression: increased message stability and nuclear polyadenylation accompany thyroid hormone depletion

In thyroid hormone-depleted rats, the rate of transcription of the growth hormone (GH) gene in the anterior pituitary gland is lower than the rate in euthyroid controls, and there is a corresponding reduction in the abundance of the GH mRNA. Concomitantly, the poly(A) tail of the GH mRNA increases in length. Examination of nuclear RNA from anterior pituitary glands of control and thyroid hormone-depleted rats revealed no difference in the length of pre-mRNAs containing the first and last introns of the GH gene. However, mature nuclear GH RNA is differentially polyadenylated in euthyroid and hypothyroid animals. We suggest that the extent of polyadenylation of the GH transcript is regulated in the cell nucleus concomitant with or subsequent to the splicing of the pre-mRNA. Experiments with anterior pituitary gland explant cultures demonstrated that the GH mRNA from thyroid hormone-depleted rats is more stable than its euthyroid counterpart and that the poly(A) tail may contribute to the differential stability of free GH ribonucleoproteins.

Posttranscriptional regulation of rat growth hormone gene expression: increased message stability and nuclear polyadenylation accompany thyroid hormone depletion

In thyroid hormone-depleted rats, the rate of transcription of the growth hormone (GH) gene in the anterior pituitary gland is lower than the rate in euthyroid controls, and there is a corresponding reduction in the abundance of the GH mRNA. Concomitantly, the poly(A) tail of the GH mRNA increases in length. Examination of nuclear RNA from anterior pituitary glands of control and thyroid hormone-depleted rats revealed no difference in the length of pre-mRNAs containing the first and last introns of the GH gene. However, mature nuclear GH RNA is differentially polyadenylated in euthyroid and hypothyroid animals. We suggest that the extent of polyadenylation of the GH transcript is regulated in the cell nucleus concomitant with or subsequent to the splicing of the pre-mRNA. Experiments with anterior pituitary gland explant cultures demonstrated that the GH mRNA from thyroid hormone-depleted rats is more stable than its euthyroid counterpart and that the poly(A) tail may contribute to the differential stability of free GH ribonucleoproteins.

Control of adenovirus alternative RNA splicing: effect of viral DNA replication on RNA splice site choice

The primary transcripts of most adenovirus transcription units are processed into multiple, alternatively spliced mRNAs. The relative concentrations of such differentially processed mRNAs changes during the infectious cycle. The factors that control this temporal shift in mRNA abundance have not yet been characterized. In the experiments presented here we have examined mRNA synthesis from three viral transcription units: two early regions E1a and E1b, and late region L1. We show that viral DNA replication plays a key role in the control of cytoplasmic mRNA expression from these regions. In the absence of efficient late protein synthesis, viral DNA replication was sufficient to induce a substantial fraction of the E1a, E1b and L1 transcripts to shift from the early to the late pattern of mRNA structure. The shift was not complete under the conditions used, suggesting that viral proteins, although not essential for the process, play an important regulatory role. The requirement for late viral protein synthesis differed between the three transcription units examined. This dependence was most pronounced for correct L1 mRNA production. Viral DNA replication was sufficient to trigger a significant shift in L1 alternative 3' splice site selection. However, in the absence of late translation the L1 pre-mRNA was aberrantly spliced.

Mutation of the AAUAAA polyadenylation signal depresses in vitro splicing of proximal but not distal introns

To investigate the relationship between splicing and polyadenylation during the production of vertebrate mRNAs, we examined the effect of mutation of a poly(A) site on splicing of upstream introns. Mutation of the AAUAAA polyadenylation consensus sequence inhibited in vitro splicing of an upstream intron. The magnitude of the depression depended on the magnesium concentration. Dependence of splicing on polyadenylation signals suggests the existence of interaction between polyadenylation and splicing factors. In multi-intron precursor RNAs containing duplicated splice sites, mutation of the poly(A) site inhibited removal of the last intron, but not the removal of introns farther upstream. Inhibition of removal of only the last intron suggests segmental recognition of multi-exon precursor RNAs and is consistent with previous suggestions that signals at both ends of an exon are required for effective splicing of an upstream intron.

A nuclear micrococcal-sensitive, ATP-dependent exoribonuclease degrades uncapped but not capped RNA substrates

We have developed an assay for an exoribonuclease present in HeLa cell nuclear extracts that degrades capped but not uncapped RNA substrates, and used it to partially purify and characterize such an activity. Capped and uncapped transcripts of different sizes (37-317 nt) were incubated with fractionated nuclear extracts, and in all cases the capped RNAs were stable while their uncapped counterparts were completely degraded. No changes in activity were detected when cap analogs were included in reaction mixtures, suggesting that the stability of capped RNAs was not due to a cap binding protein. The exoribonuclease was shown to be specific for RNA, and to function processively with either substrates containing 5'-hydroxyl or 5'-phosphorylated ends. The products were predominantly 5'-mononucleotides, and no detectable intermediates were observed at any reaction time points. Sedimentation analysis suggests that the native size of the nuclease is 7.4S or approximately 150 kDa. Interestingly, a nucleoside triphosphate was found to be necessary for specific and complete degradation of the uncapped RNAs. Finally, micrococcal nuclease (MN) pretreatment of the partially purified enzyme inhibited its activity. As several controls indicated that this was not due to non-specific effects of MN, this finding suggests that the exoribonuclease contains an essential RNA component.

Sequences involved in the control of adenovirus L1 alternative RNA splicing

During an adenovirus infection the expression of mRNA from late region L1 is temporally regulated at the level of alternative 3' splice site selection to produce two major mRNAs encoding the 52,55K and IIIa polypeptides. The proximal 3' splice site (52,55K) is used at all times of the infectious cycle whereas the distal site (IIIa) is used exclusively late after infection. We show that a single A branch nucleotide located at position -23 is used in 52,55K splicing and that two A's located at positions -21 and -22 are used in IIIa splicing. Both 3' splice sites were active in vitro in nuclear extracts prepared from uninfected HeLa cells. However, the efficiency of IIIa splicing was only approximately 10% of 52,55K splicing. This difference in splice site activity correlated with a reduced affinity of the IIIa, relative to the 52,55K, 3' splice site for polypyrimidine tract binding proteins. Reversing the order of 3' splice sites on a tandem pre-mRNA resulted in an almost exclusive IIIa splicing indicating that the order of 3' splice site presentation is important for the outcome of alternative L1 splicing. Based on our results we suggest a cis competition model where the two 3' splice sites compete for a common RNA splicing factor(s). This may represent an important mechanism by which L1 alternative splicing is regulated.

Splicing precedes polyadenylation during Drosophila E74A transcription

The E74 gene is one of a small set of early genes induced by the steroid hormone ecdysone at the onset of metamorphosis in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. This complex gene directs the synthesis of a 60-kilobase (kb) primary transcript that is spliced to form the 6-kb E74A mRNA. In a previous study, we found that ecdysone directly activates the E74A promoter and determined that RNA polymerase II transcribes this gene at a rate of approximately 1.1 kb/min. This elongation rate accounts for most of the 1-hour delay seen between the addition of ecdysone and the appearance of cytoplasmic E74A mRNA (C. S. Thummel, K. C. Burtis, and D. S. Hogness, Cell 61:101-111, 1990). We show here that nascent E74A transcripts are spliced, and we propose a model for the order of that splicing. This study provides, for the first time, direct biochemical evidence for splicing of a low-abundance cellular RNA before transcription termination and polyadenylation.

Splicing precedes polyadenylation during Drosophila E74A transcription

The E74 gene is one of a small set of early genes induced by the steroid hormone ecdysone at the onset of metamorphosis in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. This complex gene directs the synthesis of a 60-kilobase (kb) primary transcript that is spliced to form the 6-kb E74A mRNA. In a previous study, we found that ecdysone directly activates the E74A promoter and determined that RNA polymerase II transcribes this gene at a rate of approximately 1.1 kb/min. This elongation rate accounts for most of the 1-hour delay seen between the addition of ecdysone and the appearance of cytoplasmic E74A mRNA (C. S. Thummel, K. C. Burtis, and D. S. Hogness, Cell 61:101-111, 1990). We show here that nascent E74A transcripts are spliced, and we propose a model for the order of that splicing. This study provides, for the first time, direct biochemical evidence for splicing of a low-abundance cellular RNA before transcription termination and polyadenylation.

In vitro polyadenylation is stimulated by the presence of an upstream intron

The majority of vertebrate pre-mRNAs are both spliced and polyadenylated. To investigate the mechanism whereby processing factors recognize last exons containing both splicing and polyadenylation consensus elements, chimeric precursor RNAs containing a single intron and a poly(A) site were constructed and assayed for in vitro splicing and polyadenylation. Chimeric RNAs underwent splicing and polyadenylation. Both reactions occurred in a single RNA. The presence of an intron enhanced the rate of polyadenylation at a downstream poly(A) site. The extent of stimulation varied from two- to fivefold, depending on the magnesium concentration. Maximal stimulation of polyadenylation by an upstream intron required a 3' splice site but not a 5' splice site, suggesting that the structure of the terminal exon was more important than the presence of a complete upstream intron. We suggest that splicing and polyadenylation factors interact to recognize terminal, poly(A) site-containing exons. Such interaction may explain why all known intron-containing eukaryotic pre-mRNAs generate their 3' ends by polyadenylation.

A functional mRNA polyadenylation signal is required for transcription termination by RNA polymerase II

Polyadenylation of pre-mRNAs requires the conserved hexanucleotide AAUAAA, as well as sequences located downstream from the poly(A) addition site. The role of these sequences in the production of functional mRNAs was studied by analyzing a series of mutants containing deletions or substitutions in the SV40 early region poly(A) site. As expected, both a previously defined GU-rich downstream element and an AAUAAA sequence were required for efficient usage of the wild-type poly(A) addition site. However, when either of these elements was deleted, greatly increased levels of SV40-specific RNA were detected in the nuclei of transfected cells. Evidence is presented that this accumulation of RNA resulted from a failure of transcription termination, leading to multiple rounds of transcription of the circular templates. We conclude that the sequences required for efficient cleavage/polyadenylation of the SV40 early pre-mRNA also constitute an important element of an RNA polymerase II termination signal. A model proposing a mechanism by which the act of pre-mRNA 3' end formation is signaled to the elongating RNA polymerase, resulting in termination, is presented.

Preferential excision of the 5' proximal intron from mRNA precursors with two introns as mediated by the cap structure

We have studied the effect of the 5' cap structure on the splicing of precursor mRNAs containing three exons and two introns within a single molecule in a HeLa nuclear extract. When a precursor mRNA was capped, the upstream intron was spliced out more efficiently than the downstream intron. The differential splicing reactions of the two introns are not due to differences in the intrinsic efficiency of splicing of each intron, since the preferential excision of the upstream intron was also observed when the positions of the two introns relative to the cap structure were reversed. When uncapped precursor mRNA was used as substrate, the downstream intron was spliced out appreciably, but splicing of the upstream intron was greatly reduced. Preincubation of the extract with cap analogues inhibited splicing of the upstream intron but not the downstream intron. Thus, the cap structure exerts its effect primarily on the 5' proximal intron.

Nuclear non-polyadenylated RNAs containing the first intervening sequence of the major late premessenger RNA from adenovirus-2: characterization and distribution in ribonucleoproteins

The nuclear non-polyadenylated RNA from HeLa cells infected with adenovirus-2 was examined for the presence of molecules containing the first intervening sequence (IVS1) of the major late premessenger RNA. Four molecules with the approximate size of free IVS1 in sucrose gradients (1021 nucleotides) were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and characterized by complementary methods: S1 nuclease mapping, susceptibility to debranching enzyme, RNAase-H-directed cleavage. The results indicate that the most abundant RNA form is the excised lariat IVS1. We also find linear IVS1 and a randomly nicked lariat, the latter probably being made during RNA isolation. The fourth RNA is a leader 1-IVS1 molecule. No truncated IVS1 which might indicate that IVS1 is excised by several cycle of cleavage-ligation was detected. A study of the distribution of the four RNAs in hnRNP shows that they are part of RNPs of about 70 S. However, each RNP has distinct sedimentation characteristics and sensitivity to salt dissociation. Together, the results suggest that the excised lariat IVS1 is released from the large late premRNP under the form of a 70 S RNP, where it is linearized.

Model for alternative RNA processing in human calcitonin gene expression

The alternative RNA processing pathways in human calcitonin gene (CALC-I gene) expression were investigated using steady state RNA isolated from human medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and from a culture line derived from this tumor. On Northern blots the mature 1.0 kilobases (Kb) calcitonin (CT) - and 1.1 Kb calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) mRNAs were detected with CALCI gene specific probes as well as high molecular weight poly (A) containing RNAs of 2.1, 2.3, 3.3, 4.2, 5.0 and 5.7 Kb. The 5.7 Kb RNA was identified as the poly(A) tailed primary transcript containing sequences corresponding to all 6 exons and 5 introns of the CALC-I gene. From the composition of the other RNAs the splicing order of the different introns could be deduced. The results suggest the following model. First all introns not involved in alternative processing (introns 1, 2 and 5) are spliced from the 5.7 Kb RNA in rapid successive reactions yielding a 3.3 Kb RNA, which accumulates. From this 3.3 Kb RNA, the last common intermediate in the alternative processing pathway, CT mRNA is formed by splicing of intron 3 and poly(A) addition at exon 4, in this order or the reverse order via 2.3 Kb or 2.1 Kb RNA intermediates respectively. Alternatively, the whole intron 3-exon 4-intron 4 region is spliced from the 3.3 Kb RNA yielding CGRP mRNA. The temporal sequence of poly(A) addition at exons 4 and 6 may relate to the observed structural differences between the poly(A) addition signals at these sites. The ratio of CT- to CGRP mRNA may relate also to the differences in the primary structures of the intron 3- and intron 4 splice acceptor sites.

The different intron 2 species excised in vivo from the E2A premRNA of adenovirus-2: an approach to analyse alternative splicing

In the early period of cellular infection by adenovirus 2, the E2A region gives rise to 2 major mRNA species of 2.0 and 2.3 kilobases, formed by alternative excisions of intron 2 (Gattoni et al., 1986, J. Mol. Biol. 187, 379-307). We have analysed the excision pathways of this intron. Two major intron species of 626 and 337 nucleotides, generated by the use of 2 consensus 3' splicing sites and a minor intron species of 520 nucleotides, generated by the use of another weaker 3' splicing site, are identified, the 3 species sharing a common 5' splicing site. They are detected predominantly in the lariat form. For the 2 major species we analyzed, the branched nucleotides are localized at consensus branching sequences, 26 or 25 nucleotides upstream from the 3' terminal AG. Our results confirm that the first reactions of cleavage at the 5' end of introns and branching occur in vivo as described in in vitro systems. The second predominant form of intron 2 is the linear segment, whereas the nicked lariat form which is very minor, might not be a genuine product of in vivo splicing. All intron 2 molecules show practically intact 5' and 3' terminal sequences, indicating that they are well protected against nuclease attack throughout their life. Therefore, these results indicate that the primary reaction following the excision of the lariat intron is debranching. In addition, the existence of a potential 5' splicing site contiguous to the major internal 3' splicing site raised the possibility of an elimination of the major 626 nucleotide intron in 2 cycles of excision. However, we demonstrate that intron 2 is systematically excised by a one cycle process, which is likely to represent the general rule for the production of correctly spliced mRNA.

Tissue-specific heterogeneity of the 3'-untranslated region of L-type pyruvate kinase mRNAs

A single L-type pyruvate kinase (PK) gene seems to exist per haploid genome. It is expressed in the liver, kidney and small intestine in the form of three mRNA species of 2, 2.2 and 3.2 X 10(3) bases (kb). All three species are polyadenylated and translatable into the same L-type subunit. Primer extension experiments demonstrate that all three PK mRNAs have the same 5' ends. Nuclease S1 protection experiments with various cDNA and 3' genomic probes indicate that the different mRNA species only differ by the length of their 3' noncoding region. The mechanism responsible for the production of the three transcripts seems to be the use of alternative unusual polyadenylation sites. Run-on assays with specific probes recognizing only the 3.2-kb or all three mRNA species show that the transcription proceeds across the gene with similar rate. This means that the process involved in generation of the three transcripts is a posttranscriptional event, probably due to different sites of endonucleolytic cleavage of primary transcripts extending 3' from the gene region encoding the mature mRNAs. The ratio between the different PK mRNA species is, to a certain extent, tissue-specific and changes with development. The role of an 'identifier sequence' located in the 3' noncoding sequence of the 3.2-kb species in such a tissue-specific use of alternative polyadenylation sites is discussed.

alpha-Fetoprotein synthesis in transformed fetal rat liver cells

We have reported that transformed fetal liver cells produced a variant alpha-fetoprotein of 65K that differed from the mature alpha-fetoprotein of 69K and 73K in the polypeptide backbone. In the present study, we demonstrated that the biosynthetic pathway of the variant alpha-fetoprotein differed from that of the mature alpha-fetoprotein. The 65K variant was synthesized first as a preprotein of 49.5K which was processed to a polypeptide of 59K in the presence of microsomal membranes. The latter was the precursor of the variant alpha-fetoprotein found in cells and medium of transformed fetal liver cells. The 65K alpha-fetoprotein was encoded by a mRNA of 16S while mature AFP was encoded by a mRNA of 20S.

Splicing of the E2A premessenger RNA of adenovirus serotype 2. Multiple pathways in spite of excision of the entire large intron

During the early period of infection, the 4.9 kb (kb = 10(3) bases) E2A premRNA of adenovirus serotype 2 is matured mainly into a 2.0 kb mRNA by excision of introns of 2233 and 626 nucleotides. In order to define all the possible steps of splicing occurring in vivo, we characterized splicing intermediates present after a limiting treatment of cells with cycloheximide. Three complementary methods of analysis were used: RNA transfer analysis, S1 nuclease mapping and complementary DNA-RNase assay. Our principal conclusions concerning the poly(A)+ species are as follows. The RNA intermediate family detected is more complex than expected, since two major RNA intermediates of 4.6 kb and 4.3 kb, two minor intermediates of 2.9 kb and 2.6 kb, and a 2.3 kb RNA, which represents a minor alternative mRNA form, are revealed. Despite its large size and the presence of multiple internal donor and acceptor signals, intron 1 is exclusively excised as a whole. Intron 2 is either primarily excised as a whole, removing the standard 626-nucleotide sequence, or a smaller sequence of 337 nucleotides is removed, generating the 2.3 kb alternative mRNA. Kinetics of the ligation reaction demonstrate that the minimal time for excision of intron 2 is no more than two minutes, indicating a high level of co-ordination of the multiple individual reactions occurring during excision of an intron. Besides the major pathway for E2A premRNA splicing, namely the excision first of intron 2, followed by the excision of intron 1 after a lag time of five minutes, a minor pathway (used with a frequency of 10%) can be detected where the order of intron excision was inverted. With the alternative variant of excision of intron 2, at least three different pathways are therefore used to mature the E2A premRNA. RNA intermediates resulting from the cleavage at the 5' end of introns and branching can be detected by S1 mapping experiments, but their low accumulative level (1% relatively to the initial premRNA) precluded their direction by RNA transfer experiments and their complete characterization.

Alternative RNA processing events in human calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide gene expression

Two mRNAs generated as a consequence of alternative RNA processing events in expression of the human calcitonin gene encode the protein precursors of either calcitonin or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Both calcitonin and CGRP RNAs and their encoded peptide products are expressed in the human pituitary and in medullary thyroid tumors. On the basis of sequence comparison, it is suggested that both the calcitonin and CGRP exons arose from a common primordial sequence, suggesting that duplication and rearrangement events are responsible for the generation of this complex transcription unit.

Calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide transcription unit: tissue-specific expression involves selective use of alternative polyadenylation sites

Different 3' coding exons in the rat calcitonin gene are used to generate distinct mRNAs encoding either the hormone calcitonin in thyroidal C-cells or a new neuropeptide referred to as calcitonin gene-related peptide in neuronal tissue, indicating the RNA processing regulation is one strategy used in tissue-specific regulation of gene expression in the brain. Although the two mRNAs use the same transcriptional initiation site and have identical 5' terminal sequences, their 3' termini are distinct. The polyadenylation sites for calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide mRNAs are located at the end of the exons 4 and 6, respectively. Termination of transcription after the calcitonin exon does not dictate the production of calcitonin mRNA, because transcription proceeds through both calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide exons irrespective of which mRNA is ultimately produced. In isolated nuclei, both polyadenylation sites appear to be utilized; however, the proximal (calcitonin) site is preferentially used in nuclei from tissues producing calcitonin mRNA. These data suggest that the mechanism dictating production of each mRNA involves the selective use of alternative polyadenylation sites.

Introns excised from immunoglobulin pre-mRNAs exist as discrete species

We have discovered a new class of transcripts of immunoglobulin kappa genes in RNA from B-lineage cells. These transcripts have the properties predicted of free introns excised from kappa mRNA precursors. RNA extracted from populations of normal mouse spleen cells polyclonally activated with B-cell mitogens contains four such transcripts; their electrophoretic mobilities correspond to the distances between the intron-exon boundary of the C kappa region and the four useable J kappa elements, and their relative abundance reflects the relative usage of those J segments. Analysis of RNA from monoclonal kappa-expressing cell lines reveals that one active locus produces one free intron, its size determined by which J element is used in that locus. Apart from their distinctive size, free introns are identified by their lack of polyadenylic acid and their ability to hybridize to cloned probes containing intron sequences, but not to the adjacent V or C exonic sequences. They have a characteristic subcellular distribution, being extractable from nuclei by treatment with nonionic detergent; nuclei thus treated retain most of the primary mRNA precursors, but few of the free introns. A high level of kappa gene expression is not a prerequisite of a cell containing detectable free kappa introns; the lymphoma 38c has only 5% or less of the amount of kappa mRNA that the plasmacytoma MCP-11 contains, yet the ratio of free intron to mRNA precursor is about the same in both cell lines. When analyzed by electrophoretic separation of sufficient resolving power, the free introns due to a single kappa locus resolve into two discrete species. We consider that this most likely reflects the existence of two conformers of the intron, one presumably a covalently intact circle and the other linear molecule.

Calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide transcription unit: tissue-specific expression involves selective use of alternative polyadenylation sites

Different 3' coding exons in the rat calcitonin gene are used to generate distinct mRNAs encoding either the hormone calcitonin in thyroidal C-cells or a new neuropeptide referred to as calcitonin gene-related peptide in neuronal tissue, indicating the RNA processing regulation is one strategy used in tissue-specific regulation of gene expression in the brain. Although the two mRNAs use the same transcriptional initiation site and have identical 5' terminal sequences, their 3' termini are distinct. The polyadenylation sites for calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide mRNAs are located at the end of the exons 4 and 6, respectively. Termination of transcription after the calcitonin exon does not dictate the production of calcitonin mRNA, because transcription proceeds through both calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide exons irrespective of which mRNA is ultimately produced. In isolated nuclei, both polyadenylation sites appear to be utilized; however, the proximal (calcitonin) site is preferentially used in nuclei from tissues producing calcitonin mRNA. These data suggest that the mechanism dictating production of each mRNA involves the selective use of alternative polyadenylation sites.

Introns excised from immunoglobulin pre-mRNAs exist as discrete species

We have discovered a new class of transcripts of immunoglobulin kappa genes in RNA from B-lineage cells. These transcripts have the properties predicted of free introns excised from kappa mRNA precursors. RNA extracted from populations of normal mouse spleen cells polyclonally activated with B-cell mitogens contains four such transcripts; their electrophoretic mobilities correspond to the distances between the intron-exon boundary of the C kappa region and the four useable J kappa elements, and their relative abundance reflects the relative usage of those J segments. Analysis of RNA from monoclonal kappa-expressing cell lines reveals that one active locus produces one free intron, its size determined by which J element is used in that locus. Apart from their distinctive size, free introns are identified by their lack of polyadenylic acid and their ability to hybridize to cloned probes containing intron sequences, but not to the adjacent V or C exonic sequences. They have a characteristic subcellular distribution, being extractable from nuclei by treatment with nonionic detergent; nuclei thus treated retain most of the primary mRNA precursors, but few of the free introns. A high level of kappa gene expression is not a prerequisite of a cell containing detectable free kappa introns; the lymphoma 38c has only 5% or less of the amount of kappa mRNA that the plasmacytoma MCP-11 contains, yet the ratio of free intron to mRNA precursor is about the same in both cell lines. When analyzed by electrophoretic separation of sufficient resolving power, the free introns due to a single kappa locus resolve into two discrete species. We consider that this most likely reflects the existence of two conformers of the intron, one presumably a covalently intact circle and the other linear molecule.

A model for the excision of introns 1 and 2 from adenoviral major late pre-messenger RNAs

Total steady-state RNA was extracted from nuclei of HeLa cells late after infection with adenovirus serotype 2. Most of the nuclear RNA is transcribed from the major late transcription unit (16.2 to 100.0 map units). To study the cleavage reactions involved in the splicing of leaders 1 and 2, we have used the S1 nuclease mapping technique with restriction fragments located in the region of intron 1 as DNA probes. The S1 mapping data showed that in total nuclear RNA, RNA species accumulate from which the 5' part of intron 1 has been excised, but which still contain the 3' part of the intron. This indicates that intron 1 can be removed in a stepwise fashion following the 5' to 3' direction. We have compared the nucleotide sequences from the ends of the putative processing intermediates. The internal cleavage sites do not resemble the consensus 5' or 3' splice site sequences. However, they show considerable homology to the sequence 5' A-T-G-A-T-G-G-C-A-T 3', which may act as a signal for internal cleavage. The intermediates are present in both the poly(A)+ and poly(A)- RNA fractions, although with different relative intensities. Primer extension experiments have been performed in which a primer, located with its left end in leader 2, is extended into intron 1. The results show that there may be a cleavage site as short as 35 nucleotides before the 3' splice site. Cleavage at the 3' splice site seems to be rapidly followed by ligation of leader 1 to leader 2. A model for RNA splicing based on these findings and data from the literature is presented.

Splicing of in vitro synthesized messenger RNA precursors in HeLa cell extracts

Using a whole cell extract of HeLa cells, we synthesized unspliced RNAs containing the first two leaders and the first intervening sequence of the adenovirus 2 major late transcription unit. Upon incubation of these pre-mRNAs in reaction mixtures containing a nuclear extract and a postnuclear fraction (S100), removal of the first intervening sequence and concomitant joining of the first leader to the second leader was observed. This splicing reaction requires proteins, Mg2+ ions, and ATP. The S100 fraction alone has no splicing activity but stimulates splicing when added to the nuclear extract. Upon fractionation of the postnuclear S100 by chromatography on ion exchange and gel filtration columns, the stimulatory activity copurifies with small ribonucleoprotein particles.

Polyadenylic acid addition sites in the adenovirus type 2 major late transcription unit

The cytoplasmic mRNAs which are transcribed from the major late adenovirus promoter can be arranged into five 3'-coterminal families, L1 to L5. We have defined the polyadenylation sites of the mRNAs that belong to the five families at the nucleotide level. From the results, the following conclusions can be made. (i) The hexanucleotide sequence AAUAAA is present at the 3' end of all late adenovirus type 2 mRNAs and precedes the site of polyadenylation by 12 to 30 nucleotides. (ii) Between one and three A residues are present in the genomic sequence at the polyadenylation site. (iii) A sequence with the composition (T)n (A)p (T)q (n, p, q greater than or equal to 1) is found 4 to 24 nucleotides beyond all the adenovirus-specific polyadenylation sites except the 3'-coterminal family L4. This sequence is also found beyond many cellular polyadenylation sites. (iv) The L1 and L2 polyadenylation sites are very similar in structure. The other polyadenylation sites show no apparent sequence relationship, except for the hexanucleotide sequence.

Splicing of adenovirus RNA in a cell-free transcription system

A soluble whole-cell extract prepared accurately from HeLa cells splices 2-3% of the RNA transcribed from a DNA template containing the first and second leader exons of late adenovirus RNA. The spliced RNA was detected by a sensitive technique using hybridization to a single-stranded phage M13 cDNA clone, followed by binding to nitrocellulose filters. The identity of the spliced RNA was established by RNase T1 and pancreatic RNase two-dimensional peptide mapping. The bond formed during the in vitro splicing reaction appears to be a typical 3',5'-phosphodiester bond as judged by its sensitivity to RNase T1. The splicing reaction is specifically inhibited by KCl at concentrations greater than 50 mM and by the addition of cellular RNA. Three features of this system may account for the detection of splicing in a soluble extract: (i) the sensitive and unambiguous hybridization assay, (ii) the high transcriptional activity of the major late promoter of adenovirus, and (iii) the use of the first and second leader exon splice of adenovirus, which may be unusually rapid.

Splicing of adenovirus 2 early region 1A mRNAs is non-sequential

The r-strand of early region 1A (E1A) of adenovirus serotype 2 is transcribed into three completely overlapping messenger RNA species, a 9S, a 12S and a 13S mRNA. These three mRNAs are processed from a common colinear RNA precursor and differ only with regard to the size of the intron removed during mRNA maturation. We have studied the processing pathways for the E1A mRNAs by using an assay for transient expression of recombinant plasmids containing the E1A region. All three region E1A mRNAs are synthesized and transported to the cytoplasm in sufficient quantities to permit a detailed study of their structure by S1 endonuclease analysis and primer extension. Additionally, we show that the 72 base-pair repeat from simian virus 40 (SV40), when located upstream of the E1A promoter stimulates expression of the E1A mRNAs five- to tenfold. In order to determine whether splicing of the E1A mRNAs is sequential, i.e. whether the 13S and 12S mRNAs can serve as intermediates in splicing, we constructed two plasmids that lack the intervening sequences that are removed during the maturation of the 12S and 13S mRNAs, respectively. From an analysis of the RNAs produced after transfection with these deletion mutants, the following major conclusions can be made. (1) Splicing of the E1A mRNAs is non-sequential, i.e. the 13S, 12S and 9S RNAs are generated by separate splicing events using the nuclear colinear transcript as the only precursor RNA. (2) RNA splicing is not a prerequisite for an efficient transport of the E1A mRNAs to the cytoplasm. (3) The 13S RNA can be further processed to 12S and 9S RNA species. These splicing events are, however, illegitimate and give rise to 12S and 9S RNAs that both lack one nucleotide at the splice junction. (4) A coupling between splicing and nuclear transport is most likely required in vivo to prevent illegitimate splicing of the 13S mRNA. (5) The 12S RNA does not serve as a precursor for further processing to the 9S RNA. (6) Splicing of the E1A mRNAs followed strictly the G-T-A-G rule.

Alternative splicing pathways exist in the formation of adenoviral late messenger RNAs

Total rapidly labeled RNA was extracted from nuclei of HeLa cells late after infection with adenovirus type 2. Most of this nuclear RNA is transcribed from the major late transcription unit (16.2 to 100.0 map units (m.u.)). To study the cleavage reactions that are involved in RNA splicing, we used the S1 nuclease mapping technique with HindIII B (16.8 to 31.5 m.u.) and XhoI F (15.5 to 22.4 m.u.) restriction fragments as DNA probes. The S1 mapping data showed that both intron 1 (16.3 to 19.1 m.u.) and intron 2 (19.4 to 26.2 m.u.) can be excised in more than one step. Kinetic labeling and pulse--chase experiments demonstrated that certain cleavage sites in the RNA are used within three minutes after the start of transcription, while other cleavages occur only after a significant time-lag. The use of 5.6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole enabled us to label the nuclear RNA exclusively from the 5' end. Such an approach showed that the first cleavages are introduced in the nascent RNA before the RNA polymerase has passed more than 2000 nucleotides beyond the cleavage site. The chronology of the appearance of processing intermediates that results from cleavage of the RNA indicates that preferentially intron 1 is removed before intron 2. This is an agreement with the finding that leader 1 is ligated to leader 2 before ligation of leader 2 to leader 3 takes place. However, we have found that alternative splicing pathways exist in the excision of introns 1 and 2, demonstrating that cleavage in intron 2 may occur before intron 1 is attacked by the splicing enzymes.

Polypeptide structure and encoding location of the adenovirus serotype 2 late, nonstructural 33K protein

Radiochemical microsequence analysis of selected tryptic peptides of the adenovirus type 2 33K nonstructural protein has revealed the precise region of the genomic nucleotide sequence that encodes this protein. The initiation codon for the 33K protein lies 606 nucleotides to the right of the EcoRI restriction site at 70.7 map units and 281 nucleotides to the left of the postulated carboxyterminal codon of the adenovirus 100K protein. The coding regions for these two proteins thus overlap; however, the 33K protein is derived from the +1 frame with respect to the postulated 100K reading frame. Our results contradict an earlier published report suggesting that these two proteins share extensive amino acid sequence homology (N. Axelrod, Virology 87:366-383, 1978). The published nucleotide sequence of the Ad2 EcoRI-F fragment (70.7 to 75.9 map units) cannot accommodate in a single reading frame the peptide sequences of the 33K protein that we have determined. Sequence analysis of DNA fragments derived from virus has confirmed the published nucleotide sequence in all critical regions with respect to the coding region for the 33K protein. Consequently, our data are only consistent with the existence of an mRNA splice within the coding region for 33K. Consensus donor and acceptor splice sequences have been located that would predict the removal of 202 nucleotides from the transcripts for the 33K protein. Removal of these nucleotides would explain the structure of a peptide that cannot otherwise be directly encoded by the EcoRI-F fragment. Identification of the precise splice points by peptide sequencing has permitted a prediction of the complete amino acid sequence for the 33K protein.

Adenovirus type 2 fiber mRNA synthesis: no evidence for a cytoplasmic processing pathway

Adenovirus type 2 fiber mRNA exists in several forms in the cytoplasm which differ in the presence or absence of extra 5'-leader segments (L. T. Chow and T. R. Broker, Cell 15:497-510, 1978). We have investigated the possibility that forms possessing extra leader segments serve as precursors to the mature form in the cytoplasm. Pulse-labeled fiber mRNA became considerably shorter (150 to 250 bases) during a chase; however, most of the pulse-labeled species failed to hybridize to DNA fragments known to encode extra leader segments. Moreover, the entire decrease in size appeared to be due to extensive shortening of the polyadenylic acid tail. Mature-sized fiber mRNA was synthesized normally in cells infected with the nondefective adenovirus type 2-simian virus 40 hybrid virus Ad2+ND5, in which the region encoding the extra leader segments is deleted. These results indicate that the additional 5'-leader segments present in wild-type adenovirus type 2 fiber mRNA are not required for the production of mature fiber mRNA and that species that possess them are not cytoplasmic precursors to the mature form.

Calcitonin mRNA polymorphism: peptide switching associated with alternative RNA splicing events

Evidence is presented which supports a model proposing that differential RNA splicing events may be used in expression of genes of the endocrine system to generate alternative polypeptide hormones. We previously reported that variation in the expression of the gene encoding the small polypeptide hormone calcitonin is associated with the production of a new calcitonin-like or pseudo-calcitonin (psi Cal) mRNA. A plasmid containing psi Cal cDNA sequences has been constructed, and calcitonin genomic clones have been isolated. Hybridization analysis reveals that calcitonin and psi Cal sequences are chromosomally linked and are present in the same nuclear RNA transcripts. Both calcitonin and psi Cal mRNAs are functional and encode different polypeptide products. These data are compatible with the proposed model that alternative RNA splicing of the transcript(s) of the calcitonin gene ultimately results in the production of different polypeptide products.