Recognition of 5' and 3' splice site sequences in pre-mRNA studied with a filter binding technique

Multi-step recognition of potential 5' splice sites by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae U1 snRNP

In eukaryotes, splice sites define the introns of pre-mRNAs and must be recognized and excised with nucleotide precision by the spliceosome to make the correct mRNA product. In one of the earliest steps of spliceosome assembly, the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) recognizes the 5' splice site (5' SS) through a combination of base pairing, protein-RNA contacts, and interactions with other splicing factors. Previous studies investigating the mechanisms of 5' SS recognition have largely been done in vivo or in cellular extracts where the U1/5' SS interaction is difficult to deconvolute from the effects of trans-acting factors or RNA structure. In this work we used colocalization single-molecule spectroscopy (CoSMoS) to elucidate the pathway of 5' SS selection by purified yeast U1 snRNP. We determined that U1 reversibly selects 5' SS in a sequence-dependent, two-step mechanism. A kinetic selection scheme enforces pairing at particular positions rather than overall duplex stability to achieve long-lived U1 binding. Our results provide a kinetic basis for how U1 may rapidly surveil nascent transcripts for 5' SS and preferentially accumulate at these sequences rather than on close cognates.

The pre-mRNA 5' cap determines whether U6 small nuclear RNA succeeds U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle at 5' splice sites

Efficient splicing of the 5'-most intron of pre-mRNA requires a 5' m7G(5')ppp(5')N cap, which has been implicated in U1 snRNP binding to 5' splice sites. We demonstrate that the cap alters the kinetic profile of U1 snRNP binding, but its major effect is on U6 snRNA binding. With two alternative wild-type splice sites in an adenovirus pre-mRNA, the cap selectively alters U1 snRNA binding at the site to which cap-independent U1 snRNP binding is stronger and that is used predominantly in splicing; with two consensus sites, the cap acts on both, even though one is substantially preferred for splicing. However, the most striking quantitative effect of the 5' cap is neither on U1 snRNP binding nor on the assembly of large complexes but on the replacement of U1 snRNP by U6 snRNA at the 5' splice site. Inhibition of splicing by a cap analogue is correlated with the loss of U6 interactions at the 5' splice site and not with any loss of U1 snRNP binding.

Protein-protein interactions and 5'-splice-site recognition in mammalian mRNA precursors

Exactly how specific splice sites are recognized during the processing of complex precursor messenger RNAs is not clear. Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) are involved, but are not sufficient by themselves to define splice sites. Now a human protein essential for splicing in vitro, called alternative splicing factor/splicing factor 2, is shown to cooperate with the U1 snRNP particle in binding pre-mRNA. This cooperation is probably achieved by specific interactions between the arginine/serine-rich domain of the splicing factor and a similar region in a U1 snRNP-specific protein.

Thiophosphorylation of U1-70K protein inhibits pre-mRNA splicing

The U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) particle is one of the Sm class of snRNPs essential for splicing of precursor messenger RNA. Mammalian U1 snRNP contains a 165-nucleotide long RNA molecule and at least 11 proteins: the U1-specific 70K proteins A and C, and the common U snRNP proteins (B', B, D1, D2, D3, E, F and G). One of the functions of U1 snRNP is recognition of the 5' splice site, an event that requires both U1 RNA and U1 proteins. The 70K protein is the only heavily phosphorylated U1 protein in the cell. Isolated U1 snRNPs are associated with a kinase activity that selectively phosphorylates the 70K protein in vitro in a reaction requiring ATP. Here we investigate the role of phosphorylation of the 70K protein in the splicing of pre-mRNA. The 70K protein on U1 snRNPs was phosphorylated in vitro with either ATP, or with ATP-gamma S, which gave a thiophosphorylated product that was resistant to dephosphorylation by phosphatases. When HeLa nuclear splicing extracts that had been depleted of endogenous U1 snRNPs were complemented with U1 snRNPs possessing normal phosphorylated 70K protein, mature spliceosomes were generated and the splicing activity of the extracts was fully restored. By contrast, if thiophosphorylated U1 snRNPs were used instead, splicing was completely inhibited, although formation of the mature spliceosome was unaffected. Our data show that the state of phosphorylation of the U1-specific 70K protein is critical for its participation in a pre-catalytic step of the splicing reaction.

Mutations at the 3' splice site can be suppressed by compensatory base changes in U1 snRNA in fission yeast

U1 snRNA is an essential splicing factor known to base pair with 5' splice sites of premessenger RNAs. We demonstrate that pairing between the universally conserved CU just downstream from the 5' junction interaction region and the 3' splice site AG contributes to efficient splicing of Schizosaccharomyces pombe introns that typify the AG-dependent class described in mammals. Strains carrying mutations in the 3' AG of an artificial intron accumulate linear precursor, indicative of a first step block. Lariat formation is partially restored in these mutants by compensatory changes in nucleotides C7 and U8 of U1 snRNA. Consistent with a general role in fission yeast splicing, mutations at C7 are lethal, while U8 mutants are growth impaired and accumulate linear, unspliced precursor to U6 snRNA. U1 RNA-mediated recognition of the 3' splice site may have origins in analogous intramolecular interactions in an ancestral self-splicing RNA.

A Sequential splicing mechanism promotes selection of an optimal exon by repositioning a downstream 5' splice site in preprotachykinin pre-mRNA

To explore the structural basis of alternative splicing, we have analyzed the splicing of pre-mRNAs containing an optional exon, E4, from the preprotachykinin gene. This gene encodes substance P and related tachykinin peptides by alternative splicing of a common pre-mRNA. We have shown that alternative splicing of preprotachykinin pre-mRNA occurs by preferential skipping of optional E4. The competing mechanism that incorporates E4 into the final spliced RNA is constrained by an initial block to splicing of the immediate upstream intervening sequence (IVS), IVS3. This block is relieved by sequential splicing, in which the immediate downstream IVS4 is removed first. The structural change resulting from the first splicing event is directly responsible for activation of IVS3 splicing. This structural rearrangement replaces IVS4 sequences with E5 and its adjacent IVS5 sequences. To determine how this structural change promoted IVS3 splicing, we asked what structural change(s) would restore activity of IVS3 splicing-defective mutants. The most significant effect was observed by a 2-nucleotide substitution that converted the 5' splice site of E4 to an exact consensus match, GUAAGU. Exon 5 sequences alone were found not to promote splicing when present in one or multiple copies. However, when a 15-nucleotide segment of IVS5 containing GUAAGU was inserted into a splicing-defective mutant just downstream of the hybrid exon segment E4E5, splicing activity was recovered. Curiously, the 72-nucleotide L2 exon of adenovirus, without its associated 5' splice site, activates splicing when juxtaposed to E4. Models for the activation of splicing by an RNA structural change are discussed.

U1-specific protein C needed for efficient complex formation of U1 snRNP with a 5' splice site

One of the functions of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) in the splicing reaction of pre-mRNA molecules is the recognition of the 5' splice site. U1 snRNP proteins as well as base-pair interactions between U1 snRNA and the 5' splice site are important for the formation of the snRNP-pre-mRNA complex. To determine which proteins are needed for complex formation, the ability of U1 snRNPs gradually depleted of the U1-specific proteins C, A, and 70k to bind to an RNA molecule containing a 5' splice site sequence was studied in a nitrocellulose filter binding assay. The most significant effect was always observed when protein C was removed, either alone or together with other U1-specific proteins; the binding was reduced by 50 to 60%. Complementation of protein C-deficient U1 snRNPs with purified C protein restored their 5' splice site binding activity. These data suggest that protein C may potentiate the base-pair interaction between U1 RNA and the 5' splice site.

Identification of functional U1 snRNA-pre-mRNA complexes committed to spliceosome assembly and splicing

Although both U1 and U2 snRNPs have been implicated in the splicing process, their respective roles in the earliest stages of intron recognition and spliceosome assembly are uncertain. To address this issue, we developed a new strategy to prepare snRNP-depleted splicing extracts using Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells conditionally expressing U1 or U2 snRNP. Complementation analyses and chase experiments show that a stable complex, committed to the splicing pathway, forms in the absence of U2 snRNP. U1 snRNP and a substrate containing both a 5' splice site and a branchpoint sequence are required for optimal formation of this commitment complex. We developed new gel electrophoresis conditions to identify these committed complexes and to show that they contain U1 snRNA. Chase experiments demonstrated that these complexes are functional intermediates in spliceosome assembly and splicing. Our results have implications for the process of splice site selection.

Presplicing complex formation requires two proteins and U2 snRNP

Six fractions derived from a HeLa cell nuclear extract are necessary for the generation of spliced mRNA in vitro. To establish a function for the protein factors present in these fractions, their role in the formation of splicing complexes was analyzed by electrophoresis in native polyacrylamide gels. Two of the fractions are sufficient to assemble the adenovirus major late mRNA precursor into a presplicing complex with characteristics similar to the presplicing complex assembled in nuclear extract. One fraction supplies splicing factor (SF) 1 and at least one small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle, U2 snRNP. The other fraction contains SF3. Extensive fractionation of this protein has revealed that it is essential for presplicing complex assembly and the splicing reaction.

Three types of rat U1 small nuclear RNA genes with different flanking sequences are induced to express in vivo

There are about 50 copies of U1 RNA genes/pseudogenes in the rat genome. To date, we have isolated so far 25 phage clones carrying a U1 RNA gene/pseudogene from two rat genomic libraries. The 12 clones were selected by hybridization with the U1 RNA coding region under a stringent condition, and were mapped and sequenced. Here, we report three types of U1 RNA genes with different flanking sequences, all of which were shown to be induced to express in vivo by transfection with their polylinker-inserted maxi U1 RNA genes into cultured rat cells. Although these three classes of U1 RNA genes have few homologous flanking sequences, they provide both upstream and downstream of the genes two conserved blocks, which may possibly play an important role in U1 RNA expression.