Coilin displays differential affinity for specific RNAs in vivo and is linked to telomerase RNA biogenesis

Coilin and Cajal bodies

The nucleus of higher eukaryotes contains a number of structures that concentrate specific biomolecules and play distinct roles in nuclear metabolism. In recent years, the molecular mechanisms controlling their formation have been intensively studied. In this brief review, I focus on coilin and Cajal bodies. Coilin is a key scaffolding protein of Cajal bodies that is evolutionarily conserved in metazoans. Cajal bodies are thought to be one of the archetypal nuclear structures involved in the metabolism of several short non-coding nuclear RNAs. Yet surprisingly little is known about the structure and function of coilin, and a comprehensive model to explain the origin of Cajal bodies is also lacking. Here, I summarize recent results on Cajal bodies and coilin and discuss them in the context of the last three decades of research in this field.

Structural and functional organization of germ plasm condensates

Reproductive success of metazoans relies on germ cells. These cells develop early during embryogenesis, divide and undergo meiosis in the adult to make sperm and oocytes. Unlike somatic cells, germ cells are immortal and transfer their genetic material to new generations. They are also totipotent, as they differentiate into different somatic cell types. The maintenance of immortality and totipotency of germ cells depends on extensive post-transcriptional and post-translational regulation coupled with epigenetic remodeling, processes that begin with the onset of embryogenesis [1, 2]. At the heart of this regulation lie germ granules, membraneless ribonucleoprotein condensates that are specific to the germline cytoplasm called the germ plasm. They are a hallmark of all germ cells and contain several proteins and RNAs that are conserved across species. Interestingly, germ granules are often structured and tend to change through development. In this review, we describe how the structure of germ granules becomes established and discuss possible functional outcomes these structures have during development.

Composition and Function of Telomerase-A Polymerase Associated with the Origin of Eukaryotes

The canonical DNA polymerases involved in the replication of the genome are unable to fully replicate the physical ends of linear chromosomes, called telomeres. Chromosomal termini thus become shortened in each cell cycle. The maintenance of telomeres requires telomerase—a specific RNA-dependent DNA polymerase enzyme complex that carries its own RNA template and adds telomeric repeats to the ends of chromosomes using a reverse transcription mechanism. Both core subunits of telomerase—its catalytic telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) subunit and telomerase RNA (TR) component—were identified in quick succession in Tetrahymena more than 30 years ago. Since then, both telomerase subunits have been described in various organisms including yeasts, mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Despite the fact that telomerase activity in plants was described 25 years ago and the TERT subunit four years later, a genuine plant TR has only recently been identified by our group. In this review, we focus on the structure, composition and function of telomerases. In addition, we discuss the origin and phylogenetic divergence of this unique RNA-dependent DNA polymerase as a witness of early eukaryotic evolution. Specifically, we discuss the latest information regarding the recently discovered TR component in plants, its conservation and its structural features.

The PinX1/NPM interaction associates with hTERT in early-S phase and facilitates telomerase activation

Background

Telomere maintenance is an important factor in tumorigenesis. PinX1 is a potent telomerase regulator which also involves in telomerase loading to telomeres. Nucleophosmin (NPM) can partially attenuate PinX1 inhibition of telomerase activity and NPM loading to hTERT requires PinX1. However, the role of the PinX1/NPM interaction in telomerase activity is not fully understood.

Method

The long-term effects of PinX1 and NPM down-regulation on telomere length were investigated by TRF assay. The localization of the PinX1/NPM association and the NPM/PinX1/hTERT complex formation were examined by immunofluorescence studies.

Results

Concurrent long-term down-regulation of PinX1 and NPM led to a substantial decrease in telomere length. The interaction with PinX1 was crucial in NPM localization in the nucleolus during the S phase. PinX1 and NPM associated throughout S phase and the NPM/PinX1/hTERT complex formation peaked during the early-S phase. The PinX1/NPM interaction was shown to localize away from Cajal Bodies at the start of S phase.

Conclusion

PinX1/NPM interaction is important in telomerase regulation during catalysis. NPM is recruited to hTERT by PinX1 and is required in the proposed telomerase modulating unit to activate telomerase when telomere extension occurs during S phase.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13578-019-0306-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Altered dynamics of scaRNA2 and scaRNA9 in response to stress correlates with disrupted nuclear organization

Small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs) are part of small Cajal body-specific ribonucleoproteins (scaRNPs) that modify small nuclear RNA (snRNA) in Cajal bodies (CBs). Several scaRNAs (scaRNA 2, 9 and 17) have been found to generate smaller, nucleolus-enriched fragments. We hypothesize that the fragments derived from scaRNA 2, 9 and 17 form regulatory RNPs that influence the level of modifications within rRNA by altering small nucleolar RNP (snoRNP) activity. Here we show that external factors such as DNA damaging agents can alter the scaRNA9 full length to processed fragment ratio. We also show that full-length scaRNA2 levels are likewise impacted by DNA damage, which correlates with the disruption of SMN, coilin and WRAP53 co-localization in CBs. The dynamics of scaRNA9 were also shown to be affected by Drosha levels, which suggests that this protein may participate in the biogenesis and processing of this non-coding RNA. Identification of factors that contribute to scaRNA 2, 9 and 17 processing may facilitate an assessment of how external stress can lead to changes in rRNA modifications.

The Sm-core mediates the retention of partially-assembled spliceosomal snRNPs in Cajal bodies until their full maturation

Cajal bodies (CBs) are nuclear non-membrane bound organelles where small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) undergo their final maturation and quality control before they are released to the nucleoplasm. However, the molecular mechanism how immature snRNPs are targeted and retained in CBs has yet to be described. Here, we microinjected and expressed various snRNA deletion mutants as well as chimeric 7SK, Alu or bacterial SRP non-coding RNAs and provide evidence that Sm and SMN binding sites are necessary and sufficient for CB localization of snRNAs. We further show that Sm proteins, and specifically their GR-rich domains, are important for accumulating snRNPs in CBs. Accordingly, core snRNPs containing the Sm proteins, but not naked snRNAs, restore the formation of CBs after their depletion. Finally, we show that immature but not fully assembled snRNPs are able to induce CB formation and that microinjection of an excess of U2 snRNP-specific proteins, which promotes U2 snRNP maturation, chases U2 snRNA from CBs. We propose that the accessibility of the Sm ring represents the molecular basis for the quality control of the final maturation of snRNPs and the sequestration of immature particles in CBs.

Biology and clinical relevance of noncoding sno/scaRNAs

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are a group of noncoding RNAs that perform various biological functions, including biochemical modifications of other RNAs, precursors of miRNA, splicing, and telomerase activity. The small Cajal body-associated RNAs (scaRNAs) are a subset of the snoRNA family and collect in the Cajal body where they perform their canonical function to biochemically modify spliceosomal RNAs prior to maturation. Failure of sno/scaRNAs have been implicated in pathology such as congenital heart anomalies, neuromuscular disorders, and various malignancies. Thus, understanding of sno/scaRNAs demonstrates the clinical value.

Assembly and trafficking of box C/D and H/ACA snoRNPs

Box C/D and box H/ACA snoRNAs are abundant non-coding RNAs that localize in the nucleolus and mostly function as guides for nucleotide modifications. While a large pool of snoRNAs modifies rRNAs, an increasing number of snoRNAs could also potentially target mRNAs. ScaRNAs belong to a family of specific RNAs that localize in Cajal bodies and that are structurally similar to snoRNAs. Most scaRNAs are involved in snRNA modification, while telomerase RNA, which contains H/ACA motifs, functions in telomeric DNA synthesis. In this review, we describe how box C/D and H/ACA snoRNAs are processed and assembled with core proteins to form functional RNP particles. Their biogenesis involve several transport factors that first direct pre-snoRNPs to Cajal bodies, where some processing steps are believed to take place, and then to nucleoli. Assembly of core proteins involves the HSP90/R2TP chaperone-cochaperone system for both box C/D and H/ACA RNAs, but also several factors specific for each family. These assembly factors chaperone unassembled core proteins, regulate the formation and disassembly of pre-snoRNP intermediates, and control the activity of immature particles. The AAA+ ATPase RUVBL1 and RUVBL2 belong to the R2TP co-chaperones and play essential roles in snoRNP biogenesis, as well as in the formation of other macro-molecular complexes. Despite intensive research, their mechanisms of action are still incompletely understood.

Nuclear bodies: news insights into structure and function

The cell nucleus contains a number of different dynamic bodies that are variously composed of proteins and generally, but not always, specific RNA molecules. Recent studies have revealed new understanding about nuclear body formation and function in different aspects of nuclear metabolism. Here, we focus on findings describing the role of nuclear bodies in the biogenesis of specific ribonucleoprotein complexes, processing of key mRNAs, and subnuclear sequestration of protein factors. We highlight how nuclear bodies are involved in stress responses, innate immunity and tumorigenesis. We further review organization of nuclear bodies and principles that govern their assembly, highlighting the pivotal role of scaffolding noncoding RNAs, and liquid-liquid phase separation, which are transforming our picture of nuclear body formation.

The Cajal body and the nucleolus: "In a relationship" or "It's complicated"?

From their initial identification as 'nucleolar accessory bodies' more than a century ago, the relationship between Cajal bodies and nucleoli has been a subject of interest and controversy. In this review, we seek to place recent developments in the understanding of the physical and functional relationships between the 2 structures in the context of historical observations. Biophysical models of nuclear body formation, the molecular nature of CB/nucleolus interactions and the increasing list of joint roles for CBs and nucleoli, predominantly in assembling ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, are discussed.

Cajal bodies and snRNPs - friends with benefits

Spliceosomal snRNPs are complex particles that proceed through a fascinating maturation pathway. Several steps of this pathway are closely linked to nuclear non-membrane structures called Cajal bodies. In this review, I summarize the last 20 y of research in this field. I primarily focus on snRNP biogenesis, specifically on the steps that involve Cajal bodies. I also evaluate the contribution of the Cajal body in snRNP quality control and discuss the role of snRNPs in Cajal body formation.

Identification of processing elements and interactors implicate SMN, coilin and the pseudogene-encoded coilp1 in telomerase and box C/D scaRNP biogenesis

Many cellular functions, such as translation, require ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). The biogenesis of RNPs is a multi-step process that, depending on the RNP, can take place in many cellular compartments. Here we examine 2 different RNPs: telomerase and small Cajal body-specific RNPs (scaRNPs). Both of these RNPs are enriched in the Cajal body (CB), which is a subnuclear domain that also has high concentrations of another RNP, small nuclear RNPs (snRNPs). SnRNPs are essential components of the spliceosome, and scaRNPs modify the snRNA component of the snRNP. The CB contains many proteins, including WRAP53, SMN and coilin, the CB marker protein. We show here that coilin, SMN and coilp1, a newly identified protein encoded by a pseudogene in human, associate with telomerase RNA and a subset of scaRNAs. We also have identified a processing element within box C/D scaRNA. Our findings thus further strengthen the connection between the CB proteins coilin and SMN in the biogenesis of telomeras e and box C/D scaRNPs, and reveal a new player, coilp1, that likely participates in this process.

SMN and coilin negatively regulate dyskerin association with telomerase RNA

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein comprising telomerase RNA and associated proteins. The formation of the telomerase holoenzyme takes place in the Cajal body (CB), a subnuclear domain that participates in the formation of ribonucleoproteins. CBs also contribute to the delivery of telomerase to telomeres. The protein WRAP53 is enriched within the CB and is instrumental for the targeting of telomerase RNA to CBs. Two other CB proteins, SMN and coilin, are also suspected of taking part in some aspect of telomerase biogenesis. Here we demonstrate newly discovered associations between SMN and coilin with telomerase components, and further show that reduction of SMN or coilin is correlated with increased association of telomerase RNA with one these components, dyskerin. These findings argue that SMN and coilin may negatively regulate the formation of telomerase. Furthermore, clinically defined SMN mutants found in individuals with spinal muscular atrophy are altered in their association with telomerase complex proteins. Additionally, we observe that a coilin derivative also associates with dyskerin, and the amount of this protein in the complex is regulated by SMN, WRAP53 and coilin levels. Collectively, our findings bolster the link between SMN, coilin and the coilin derivative in the biogenesis of telomerase.

Coilin: The first 25 years

Initially identified as a marker of coiled bodies (now Cajal bodies or CBs), the protein coilin was discovered a quarter of century ago. Coilin is now known to scaffold the CB, but its structure and function are poorly understood. Nearly devoid of predicted structural motifs, coilin has numerous reported molecular interactions that must underlie its role in the formation and function of CBs. In this review, we summarize what we have learned in the past 25 years about coilin's structure, post-transcriptional modifications, and interactions with RNA and proteins. We show that genes with homology to human coilin are found in primitive metazoans and comment on differences among model organisms. Coilin's function in Cajal body formation and RNP metabolism will be discussed in the light of these developments.

VRK1 regulates Cajal body dynamics and protects coilin from proteasomal degradation in cell cycle

Cajal bodies (CBs) are nuclear organelles associated with ribonucleoprotein functions and RNA maturation. CBs are assembled on coilin, its main scaffold protein, in a cell cycle dependent manner. The Ser-Thr VRK1 (vaccinia-related kinase 1) kinase, whose activity is also cell cycle regulated, interacts with and phosphorylates coilin regulating assembly of CBs. Coilin phosphorylation is not necessary for its interaction with VRK1, but it occurs in mitosis and regulates coilin stability. Knockdown of VRK1 or VRK1 inactivation by serum deprivation causes a loss of coilin phosphorylation in Ser184 and of CBs formation, which are rescued with an active VRK1, but not by kinase-dead VRK1. The phosphorylation of coilin in Ser184 occurs during mitosis before assembly of CBs. Loss of coilin phosphorylation results in disintegration of CBs, and of coilin degradation that is prevented by proteasome inhibitors. After depletion of VRK1, coilin is ubiquitinated in nuclei, which is partly mediated by mdm2, but its proteasomal degradation occurs in cytosol and is prevented by blocking its nuclear export. We conclude that VRK1 is a novel regulator of CBs dynamics and stability in cell cycle by protecting coilin from ubiquitination and degradation in the proteasome, and propose a model of CB dynamics.

Cajal body proteins differentially affect the processing of box C/D scaRNPs

Small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), which are required for pre-mRNA splicing, contain extensively modified snRNA. Small Cajal body-specific ribonucleoproteins (scaRNPs) mediate these modifications. It is unknown how the box C/D class of scaRNPs localizes to Cajal Bodies (CBs). The processing of box C/D scaRNA is also unclear. Here, we explore the processing of box C/D scaRNA 2 and 9 by coilin. We also broaden our investigation to include WRAP53 and SMN, which accumulate in CBs, play a role in RNP biogenesis and associate with coilin. These studies demonstrate that the processing of an ectopically expressed scaRNA2 is altered upon the reduction of coilin, WRAP53 or SMN, but the extent and direction of this change varies depending on the protein reduced. We also show that box C/D scaRNP activity is reduced in a cell line derived from coilin knockout mice. Collectively, the findings presented here further implicate coilin as being a direct participant in the formation of box C/D scaRNPs, and demonstrate that WRAP53 and SMN may also play a role, but the activity of these proteins is divergent to coilin.

SART3-Dependent Accumulation of Incomplete Spliceosomal snRNPs in Cajal Bodies

Cajal bodies (CBs) are evolutionarily conserved nuclear structures involved in the metabolism of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs). CBs are not present in all cell types, and the trigger for their formation is not yet known. Here, we depleted cells of factors required for the final steps of snRNP assembly and assayed for the presence of stalled intermediates in CBs. We show that depletion induces formation of CBs in cells that normally lack these nuclear compartments, suggesting that CB nucleation is triggered by an imbalance in snRNP assembly. Accumulation of stalled intermediates in CBs depends on the di-snRNP assembly factor SART3. SART3 is required for both the induction of CB formation as well as the tethering of incomplete snRNPs to coilin, the CB scaffolding protein. We propose a model wherein SART3 monitors tri-snRNP assembly and sequesters incomplete particles in CBs, thereby allowing cells to maintain a homeostatic balance of mature snRNPs in the nucleoplasm.

The coilin interactome identifies hundreds of small noncoding RNAs that traffic through Cajal bodies

Coilin protein scaffolds Cajal bodies (CBs)-subnuclear compartments enriched in small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs)-and promotes efficient spliceosomal snRNP assembly. The molecular function of coilin, which is intrinsically disordered with no defined motifs, is poorly understood. We use UV crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (iCLIP) to determine whether mammalian coilin binds RNA in vivo and to identify targets. Robust detection of snRNA transcripts correlated with coilin ChIP-seq peaks on snRNA genes, indicating that coilin binding to nascent snRNAs is a site-specific CB nucleator. Surprisingly, several hundred small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) were identified as coilin interactors, including numerous unannotated mouse and human snoRNAs. We show that all classes of snoRNAs concentrate in CBs. Moreover, snoRNAs lacking specific CB retention signals traffic through CBs en route to nucleoli, consistent with the role of CBs in small RNP assembly. Thus, coilin couples snRNA and snoRNA biogenesis, making CBs the cellular hub of small ncRNA metabolism.

Cell biology of disease: Telomeropathies: an emerging spectrum disorder

A constellation of related genetic diseases are caused by defects in the telomere maintenance machinery. These disorders, often referred to as telomeropathies, share symptoms and molecular mechanisms, and mounting evidence indicates they are points along a spectrum of disease. Several new causes of these disorders have been recently discovered, and a number of related syndromes may be unrecognized telomeropathies. Progress in the clinical understanding of telomeropathies has in turn driven progress in the basic science of telomere biology. In addition, the pattern of genetic anticipation in some telomeropathies generates thought-provoking questions about the way telomere length impacts the course of these diseases.

The role of nuclear bodies in gene expression and disease

This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of nuclear bodies in regulating gene expression. The compartmentalization of cellular processes, such as ribosome biogenesis, RNA processing, cellular response to stress, transcription, modification and assembly of spliceosomal snRNPs, histone gene synthesis and nuclear RNA retention, has significant implications for gene regulation. These functional nuclear domains include the nucleolus, nuclear speckle, nuclear stress body, transcription factory, Cajal body, Gemini of Cajal body, histone locus body and paraspeckle. We herein review the roles of nuclear bodies in regulating gene expression and their relation to human health and disease.

Coilin association with Box C/D scaRNA suggests a direct role for the Cajal body marker protein in scaRNP biogenesis

Spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) are enriched in the Cajal body (CB). Guide RNAs, known as small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs), direct modification of the small nuclear RNA (snRNA) component of the snRNP. The protein WRAP53 binds a sequence motif (the CAB box) found in many scaRNAs and the RNA component of telomerase (hTR) and targets these RNAs to the CB. We have previously reported that coilin, the CB marker protein, associates with certain non-coding RNAs. For a more comprehensive examination of the RNAs associated with coilin, we have sequenced the RNA isolated from coilin immunocomplexes. A striking preferential association of coilin with the box C/D scaRNAs 2 and 9, which lack a CAB box, was observed. This association varied by treatment condition and WRAP53 knockdown. In contrast, reduction of WRAP53 did not alter the level of coilin association with hTR. Additional studies showed that coilin degrades/processes scaRNA 2 and 9, associates with active telomerase and can influence telomerase activity. These findings suggest that coilin plays a novel role in the biogenesis of box C/D scaRNPs and telomerase.

Fam118B, a newly identified component of Cajal bodies, is required for Cajal body formation, snRNP biogenesis and cell viability

Cajal bodies are specialized and dynamic compartments in the nucleus that are involved in the biogenesis of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). Because of the dynamic and varied roles of Cajal bodies, it is of great interest to identify the components of Cajal bodies to better understand their functions. We performed a genome-wide screen to identify proteins that colocalize with coilin, the marker protein of Cajal bodies. In this study, we identified and characterized Fam118B as a newly discovered component of Cajal bodies. Fam118B is widely expressed in a variety of cell lines derived from various origins. Overexpression of Fam118B changes the canonical morphology of Cajal bodies, whereas depletion of Fam118B disrupts the localization of components of Cajal bodies, including coilin, the survival of motor neuron protein (SMN) and the Sm protein D1 (SmD1, also known as SNRPD1). Moreover, depletion of Fam118B reduces splicing capacity and inhibits cell proliferation. In addition, Fam118B associates with coilin and SMN proteins. Fam118B depletion reduces symmetric dimethylarginine modification of SmD1, which in turn diminishes the binding of SMN to this Sm protein. Taken together, these data indicate that Fam118B, by regulating SmD1 symmetric dimethylarginine modification, plays an important role in Cajal body formation, snRNP biogenesis and cell viability.

Nuclear Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein is localized to Cajal bodies

Fragile X syndrome is caused by loss of function of a single gene encoding the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP). This RNA-binding protein, widely expressed in mammalian tissues, is particularly abundant in neurons and is a component of messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes present within the translational apparatus. The absence of FMRP in neurons is believed to cause translation dysregulation and defects in mRNA transport essential for local protein synthesis and for synaptic development and maturation. A prevalent model posits that FMRP is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein that transports its mRNA targets from the nucleus to the translation machinery. However, it is not known which of the multiple FMRP isoforms, resulting from the numerous alternatively spliced FMR1 transcripts variants, would be involved in such a process. Using a new generation of anti-FMRP antibodies and recombinant expression, we show here that the most commonly expressed human FMRP isoforms (ISO1 and 7) do not localize to the nucleus. Instead, specific FMRP isoforms 6 and 12 (ISO6 and 12), containing a novel C-terminal domain, were the only isoforms that localized to the nuclei in cultured human cells. These isoforms localized to specific p80-coilin and SMN positive structures that were identified as Cajal bodies. The Cajal body localization signal was confined to a 17 amino acid stretch in the C-terminus of human ISO6 and is lacking in a mouse Iso6 variant. As FMRP is an RNA-binding protein, its presence in Cajal bodies suggests additional functions in nuclear post-transcriptional RNA metabolism. Supporting this hypothesis, a missense mutation (I304N), known to alter the KH2-mediated RNA binding properties of FMRP, abolishes the localization of human FMRP ISO6 to Cajal bodies. These findings open unexplored avenues in search for new insights into the pathophysiology of Fragile X Syndrome.

Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of inherited mental retardation affecting approximately 1/7000 females and 1/4000 males worldwide. The syndrome is due to the silencing of a single gene, the Fragile Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1), that codes for a protein called the Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). This protein, highly expressed in the brain, controls local protein synthesis essential for neuronal development and maturation. While considerable efforts have been focused on understanding FMRP functions in mental retardation, the pathophysiology of the syndrome is not well understood. Here, we show that in addition to the well-studied roles of FMRP in regulating protein synthesis, a minor species of FMRP different from the major one, is specifically found in structures called Cajal bodies present in the cell nucleus. Our observations suggest that different FMRP species, also called isoforms, might have independent cellular functions. These findings might open new avenues in search for new insights in the pathophysiology of Fragile X Syndrome.

Signals controlling Cajal body assembly and function

Cajal bodies (CBs) are subnuclear domains that participate in the biogenesis of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and telomerase. CBs are found in cells with high splicing demands, such as neuronal and cancer cells. The purpose of this review is to highlight what is known about the signals that impact the formation and activity of CBs. Particular attention is paid to phosphorylation as a major regulator of CB formation and composition, but a non-biochemical mediated pathway (mechanotransduction) that impacts CBs is also discussed. Amongst the CB components, recently published work on coilin (the CB marker protein) strongly suggests that this protein, and the CB by extension, is a global sensor that responds to environmental signals. Disruption of these signals, which would result in a decreased capacity to generate snRNPs and telomerase, is predicted to be beneficial in the treatment of cancer.

Phosphorylation regulates coilin activity and RNA association

The Cajal body (CB) is a domain of concentrated components found within the nucleus of cells in an array of species that is functionally important for the biogenesis of telomerase and small nuclear ribonucleoproteins. The CB is a dynamic structure whose number and size change during the cell cycle and is associated with other nuclear structures and gene loci. Coilin, also known as the marker protein for the CB, is a phosphoprotein widely accepted for its role in maintaining CB integrity. Recent studies have been done to further elucidate functional activities of coilin apart from its structural role in the CB in an attempt to explore the rationale for coilin expression in cells that have few CBs or lack them altogether. Here we show that the RNA association profile of coilin changes in mitosis with respect to that during interphase. We provide evidence of transcriptional and/or processing dysregulation of several CB-related RNA transcripts as a result of ectopic expression of both wild-type and phosphomutant coilin proteins. We also show apparent changes in transcription and/or processing of these transcripts upon coilin knockdown in both transformed and primary cell lines. Additionally, we provide evidence of specific coilin RNase activity regulation, on both U2 and hTR transcripts, by phosphorylation of a single residue, serine 489. Collectively, these results point to additional functions for coilin that are regulated by phosphorylation.