Structural basis for high-order complex of SARNP and DDX39B to facilitate mRNP assembly

Cryo-EM structure of the CBC-ALYREF complex

In eukaryotes, RNAs transcribed by RNA Pol II are modified at the 5' end with a 7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap, which is recognized by the nuclear cap binding complex (CBC). The CBC plays multiple important roles in mRNA metabolism, including transcription, splicing, polyadenylation, and export. It promotes mRNA export through direct interaction with a key mRNA export factor, ALYREF, which in turn links the TRanscription and EXport (TREX) complex to the 5' end of mRNA. However, the molecular mechanism for CBC-mediated recruitment of the mRNA export machinery is not well understood. Here, we present the first structure of the CBC in complex with an mRNA export factor, ALYREF. The cryo-EM structure of CBC-ALYREF reveals that the RRM domain of ALYREF makes direct contact with both the NCBP1 and NCBP2 subunits of the CBC. Comparing CBC-ALYREF with other cellular complexes containing CBC and/or ALYREF components provides insights into the coordinated events during mRNA transcription, splicing, and export.

The GC-content at the 5' ends of human protein-coding genes is undergoing mutational decay

BACKGROUND

In vertebrates, most protein-coding genes have a peak of GC-content near their 5' transcriptional start site (TSS). This feature promotes both the efficient nuclear export and translation of mRNAs. Despite the importance of GC-content for RNA metabolism, its general features, origin, and maintenance remain mysterious. We investigate the evolutionary forces shaping GC-content at the transcriptional start site (TSS) of genes through both comparative genomic analysis of nucleotide substitution rates between different species and by examining human de novo mutations.

RESULTS

Our data suggests that GC-peaks at TSSs were present in the last common ancestor of amniotes, and likely that of vertebrates. We observe that in apes and rodents, where recombination is directed away from TSSs by PRDM9, GC-content at the 5' end of protein-coding gene is currently undergoing mutational decay. In canids, which lack PRDM9 and perform recombination at TSSs, GC-content at the 5' end of protein-coding is increasing. We show that these patterns extend into the 5' end of the open reading frame, thus impacting synonymous codon position choices.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the dynamics of this GC-peak in amniotes is largely shaped by historic patterns of recombination. Since decay of GC-content towards the mutation rate equilibrium is the default state for non-functional DNA, the observed decrease in GC-content at TSSs in apes and rodents indicates that the GC-peak is not being maintained by selection on most protein-coding genes in those species.

Parsing the roles of DExD-box proteins DDX39A and DDX39B in alternative RNA splicing

DExD-box RNA proteins DDX39A and DDX39B are highly homologous paralogs that are conserved in vertebrates. They are required for energy-driven reactions involved in RNA processing. Although we have some understanding of how their functions overlap in RNA nuclear export, our knowledge of whether or not these proteins have specific or redundant functions in RNA splicing is limited. Our previous work has shown that DDX39B is responsible for regulating the splicing of important immune transcripts IL7R and FOXP3. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether DDX39A, a highly homologous paralog of DDX39B, plays a similar role in regulating alternative RNA splicing. We find that DDX39A and DDX39B have significant redundancy in their gene targets, but there are targets that uniquely require one or the other paralog. For instance, DDX39A is incapable of complementing defective splicing of IL7R exon 6 when DDX39B is depleted. This exon and other cassette exons that specifically depend on DDX39B have U-poor/C-rich polypyrimidine tracts in the upstream intron and this variant polypyrimidine tract is required for DDX39B dependency. This study provides evidence that despite a high degree of functional redundancy, DDX39A and DDX39B are selectively required for the splicing of specific pre-mRNAs.

Arabidopsis mRNA export factor MOS11: molecular interactions and role in abiotic stress responses

Transcription and export (TREX) is a multi-subunit complex that links synthesis, processing and export of mRNAs. It interacts with the RNA helicase UAP56 and export factors such as MOS11 and ALYs to facilitate nucleocytosolic transport of mRNAs. Plant MOS11 is a conserved, but sparsely researched RNA-binding export factor, related to yeast Tho1 and mammalian CIP29/SARNP. Using biochemical approaches, the domains of Arabidopsis thaliana MOS11 required for interaction with UAP56 and RNA-binding were identified. Further analyses revealed marked genetic interactions between MOS11 and ALY genes. Cell fractionation in combination with transcript profiling demonstrated that MOS11 is required for export of a subset of mRNAs that are shorter and more GC-rich than MOS11-independent transcripts. The central α-helical domain of MOS11 proved essential for physical interaction with UAP56 and for RNA-binding. MOS11 is involved in the nucleocytosolic transport of mRNAs that are upregulated under stress conditions and accordingly mos11 mutant plants turned out to be sensitive to elevated NaCl concentrations and heat stress. Collectively, our analyses identify functional interaction domains of MOS11. In addition, the results establish that mRNA export is critically involved in the plant response to stress conditions and that MOS11 plays a prominent role at this.

Critical Cellular Functions and Mechanisms of Action of the RNA Helicase UAP56

Posttranscriptional maturation and export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm are essential steps in the normal processing of many cellular RNAs. The RNA helicase UAP56 (U2AF associated protein 56; also known as DDX39B) has emerged as a critical player in facilitating and co-transcriptionally linking these steps. Originally identified as a helicase involved in pre-mRNA splicing, UAP56 has been shown to facilitate formation of the A complex during spliceosome assembly. Additionally, it has been found to be critical for interactions between components of the exon junction and transcription and export complexes to promote the loading of export receptors. Although it appears to be structurally similar to other helicase superfamily 2 members, UAP56's ability to interact with multiple different protein partners allows it to perform its various cellular functions. Herein, we describe the structure-activity relationship studies that identified protein interactions of UAP56 and its human paralog URH49 (UAP56-related helicase 49; also known as DDX39A) and are beginning to reveal molecular mechanisms by which interacting proteins and substrate RNAs may regulate these helicases. We also provide an overview of reports that have demonstrated less well-characterized roles for UAP56, including R-loop resolution and telomere maintenance. Finally, we discuss studies that indicate a potential pathogenic effect of UAP56 in the development of autoimmune diseases and cancer, and identify the association of somatic and genetic mutations in UAP56 with neurodevelopmental disorders.

mRNA accessibility within mRNPs as a determinant of gene expression

Gene expression is a complex process requiring many control mechanisms to achieve a desired phenotype. DNA accessibility within chromatin is well established as an important determinant of gene expression. By contrast, while mRNA also associates with a complement of proteins, the exact nature of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) packaging and its functional relevance is not as clear. Recent reports indicate that exon junction complex (EJC)-mediated mRNP packaging renders exon junction-proximal regions inaccessible for m6A methylation, and that EJCs reside within the inaccessible interior of globular transcription and export (TREX) complex-associated nuclear mRNPs. We propose that 'mRNA accessibility' within mRNPs is an important determinant of gene expression that may modulate the specificity of a broad array of regulatory processes including but not limited to m6A methylation.

mRNA nuclear export: how mRNA identity features distinguish functional RNAs from junk transcripts

The division of the cellular space into nucleoplasm and cytoplasm promotes quality control mechanisms that prevent misprocessed mRNAs and junk RNAs from gaining access to the translational machinery. Here, we explore how properly processed mRNAs are distinguished from both misprocessed mRNAs and junk RNAs by the presence or absence of various 'identity features'.