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A Quality Control Mechanism of Splice Site Selection Abrogated under Stress and in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14071750. [PMID: 35406522 PMCID: PMC8996931 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Splicing and alternative splicing play a major role in regulating gene expression, and mis-regulation of splicing can lead to several diseases, including cancer. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge of a quality control mechanism of splice site selection termed Suppression of Splicing (SOS), proposed to protect cells from splicing at the numerous intronic unused 5′ splice sites, and emphasize its relevance to cancer. This relevance stems from the finding that SOS is abrogated under stress and in cancer resulting in the expression of thousands of aberrant nonsense mRNAs that may be toxic to cells. These findings highlight the unexplored potential of such aberrant isoforms as novel targets for cancer diagnosis and therapies. Abstract Latent 5’ splice sites, highly abundant in human introns, are not normally used. This led to the proposal of a quality control mechanism, Suppression of Splicing (SOS), which protects cells from splicing at the numerous intronic latent sites, and whose activation can generate nonsense mRNAs. SOS was shown to be independent of Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay (NMD). Efforts to decipher the SOS mechanism revealed a pivotal role for initiator-tRNA, independent of protein translation. Recently, nucleolin (a multifunctional protein) was found to directly and specifically bind the initiator-tRNA in the nucleus and was shown to be a protein component of SOS, enabling an updated model of the SOS mechanism. Importantly, SOS is abrogated under stress and in cancer (e.g., in breast cancer cells and gliomas), generating thousands of nonsense mRNAs due to activation of latent splicing. The resulting affected human genes cover a variety of functional groups, including genes involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, in oligodendroglioma, the extent of activation of latent splicing increases with the severity of the cancer. Interesting examples are genes expressing aberrant nonsense mRNAs in both breast cancer and glioma, due to latent splicing activation. These findings highlight the unexplored potential of such aberrant isoforms as novel targets for cancer diagnosis and therapies.
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Shefer K, Boulos A, Gotea V, Arafat M, Ben Chaim Y, Muharram A, Isaac S, Eden A, Sperling J, Elnitski L, Sperling R. A novel role for nucleolin in splice site selection. RNA Biol 2021; 19:333-352. [PMID: 35220879 PMCID: PMC8890436 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.2020455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Latent 5' splice sites, not normally used, are highly abundant in human introns, but are activated under stress and in cancer, generating thousands of nonsense mRNAs. A previously proposed mechanism to suppress latent splicing was shown to be independent of NMD, with a pivotal role for initiator-tRNA independent of protein translation. To further elucidate this mechanism, we searched for nuclear proteins directly bound to initiator-tRNA. Starting with UV-crosslinking, we identified nucleolin (NCL) interacting directly and specifically with initiator-tRNA in the nucleus, but not in the cytoplasm. Next, we show the association of ini-tRNA and NCL with pre-mRNA. We further show that recovery of suppression of latent splicing by initiator-tRNA complementation is NCL dependent. Finally, upon nucleolin knockdown we show activation of latent splicing in hundreds of coding transcripts having important cellular functions. We thus propose nucleolin, a component of the endogenous spliceosome, through its direct binding to initiator-tRNA and its effect on latent splicing, as the first protein of a nuclear quality control mechanism regulating splice site selection to protect cells from latent splicing that can generate defective mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinneret Shefer
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, JerusalemIsrael
| | - Ayub Boulos
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, JerusalemIsrael
| | - Valer Gotea
- Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MDUSA
| | - Maram Arafat
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, JerusalemIsrael
| | - Yair Ben Chaim
- Department of Natural Sciences, The Open University, RaananaIsrael
| | - Aya Muharram
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, JerusalemIsrael
| | - Sara Isaac
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, JerusalemIsrael
| | - Amir Eden
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, JerusalemIsrael
| | - Joseph Sperling
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, RehovotIsrael
| | - Laura Elnitski
- Translational and Functional Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MDUSA
| | - Ruth Sperling
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, JerusalemIsrael
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Sperling R. Small non-coding RNA within the endogenous spliceosome and alternative splicing regulation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2019; 1862:194406. [PMID: 31323432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Splicing and alternative splicing (AS), which occur in the endogenous spliceosome, play major roles in regulating gene expression, and defects in them are involved in numerous human diseases including cancer. Although the mechanism of the splicing reaction is well understood, the regulation of AS remains to be elucidated. A group of essential regulatory factors in gene expression are small non-coding RNAs (sncRNA): e.g. microRNA, mainly known for their inhibitory role in translation in the cytoplasm; and small nucleolar RNA, known for their role in methylating non-coding RNA in the nucleolus. Here I highlight a new aspect of sncRNAs found within the endogenous spliceosome. Assembled in non-canonical complexes and through different base pairing than their canonical ones, spliceosomal sncRNAs can potentially target different RNAs. Examples of spliceosomal sncRNAs regulating AS, regulating gene expression, and acting in a quality control of AS are reviewed, suggesting novel functions for spliceosomal sncRNAs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA structure and splicing regulation edited by Francisco Baralle, Ravindra Singh and Stefan Stamm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Sperling
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
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Nevo Y, Sperling J, Sperling R. Heat shock activates splicing at latent alternative 5' splice sites in nematodes. Nucleus 2015; 6:225-35. [PMID: 25634319 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2015.1010956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pre-mRNA splicing is essential for the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes and is fundamental in development and cancer, and involves the selection of a consensus sequence that defines the 5' splice site (5'SS). Human introns harbor multiple sequences that conform to the 5'SS consensus, which are not used under normal growth conditions. Under heat shock conditions, splicing at such intronic latent 5'SSs occurred in thousands of human transcripts, resulting in pre-maturely terminated aberrant proteins. Here we performed a survey of the C. elegans genome, showing that worm's introns contain latent 5'SSs, whose use for splicing would have resulted in pre-maturely terminated mRNAs. Splicing at these latent 5'SSs could not be detected under normal growth conditions, while heat shock activated latent splicing in a number of tested C. elegans transcripts. Two scenarios could account for the lack of latent splicing under normal growth conditions (i) Splicing at latent 5'SSs do occur, but the nonsense mRNAs thus formed are rapidly and efficiently degraded (e.g. by NMD); and (ii) Splicing events at intronic latent 5'SSs are suppressed. Here we support the second scenario, because, nematode smg mutants that are devoid of NMD-essential factors, did not show latent splicing under normal growth conditions. Hence, these experiments together with our previous experiments in mammalian cells, indicate the existence of a nuclear quality control mechanism, termed Suppression Of Splicing (SOS), which discriminates between latent and authentic 5'SSs in an open reading frame dependent manner, and allows splicing only at the latter. Our results show that SOS is an evolutionary conserved mechanism, probably shared by most eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Nevo
- a Department of Genetics; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; Jerusalem , Israel
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5
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Shefer K, Sperling J, Sperling R. The Supraspliceosome - A Multi-Task Machine for Regulated Pre-mRNA Processing in the Cell Nucleus. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2014; 11:113-22. [PMID: 25408845 PMCID: PMC4232567 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Revised: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Pre-mRNA splicing of Pol II transcripts is executed in the mammalian cell nucleus within a huge (21 MDa) and highly dynamic RNP machine — the supraspliceosome. It is composed of four splicing active native spliceosomes, each resembling an in vitro assembled spliceosome, which are connected by the pre-mRNA. Supraspliceosomes harbor protein splicing factors and all the five-spliceosomal U snRNPs. Recent analysis of specific supraspliceosomes at defined splicing stages revealed that they harbor all five spliceosomal U snRNAs at all splicing stages. Supraspliceosomes harbor additional pre-mRNA processing components, such as the 5′-end and 3′-end processing components, and the RNA editing enzymes ADAR1 and ADAR2. The structure of the native spliceosome, at a resolution of 20 Å, was determined by cryo-EM. A unique spatial arrangement of the spliceosomal U snRNPs within the native spliceosome emerged from in-silico studies, localizing the five U snRNPs mostly within its large subunit, and sheltering the active core components deep within the spliceosomal cavity. The supraspliceosome provides a platform for coordinating the numerous processing steps that the pre-mRNA undergoes: 5′ and 3′-end processing activities, RNA editing, constitutive and alternative splicing, and processing of intronic microRNAs. It also harbors a quality control mechanism termed suppression of splicing (SOS) that, under normal growth conditions, suppresses splicing at abundant intronic latent 5′ splice sites in a reading frame-dependent fashion. Notably, changes in these regulatory processing activities are associated with human disease and cancer. These findings emphasize the supraspliceosome as a multi-task master regulator of pre-mRNA processing in the cell nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinneret Shefer
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Joseph Sperling
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Ruth Sperling
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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Mihaylov IS, Cotmore SF, Tattersall P. Complementation for an essential ancillary non-structural protein function across parvovirus genera. Virology 2014; 468-470:226-237. [PMID: 25194919 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.07.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Parvoviruses encode a small number of ancillary proteins that differ substantially between genera. Within the genus Protoparvovirus, minute virus of mice (MVM) encodes three isoforms of its ancillary protein NS2, while human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1), in the genus Bocaparvovirus, encodes an NP1 protein that is unrelated in primary sequence to MVM NS2. To search for functional overlap between NS2 and NP1, we generated murine A9 cell populations that inducibly express HBoV1 NP1. These were used to test whether NP1 expression could complement specific defects resulting from depletion of MVM NS2 isoforms. NP1 induction had little impact on cell viability or cell cycle progression in uninfected cells, and was unable to complement late defects in MVM virion production associated with low NS2 levels. However, NP1 did relocate to MVM replication centers, and supports both the normal expansion of these foci and overcomes the early paralysis of DNA replication in NS2-null infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivailo S Mihaylov
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Susan F Cotmore
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Peter Tattersall
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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Nevo Y, Kamhi E, Jacob-Hirsch J, Amariglio N, Rechavi G, Sperling J, Sperling R. Genome-wide activation of latent donor splice sites in stress and disease. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:10980-94. [PMID: 23002147 PMCID: PMC3510495 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequences that conform to the 5′ splice site (5′SS) consensus are highly abundant in mammalian introns. Most of these sequences are preceded by at least one in-frame stop codon; thus, their use for splicing would result in pre-maturely terminated aberrant mRNAs. In normally grown cells, such intronic 5′SSs appear not to be selected for splicing. However, under heat shock conditions aberrant splicing involving such latent 5′SSs occurred in a number of specific gene transcripts. Using a splicing-sensitive microarray, we show here that stress-induced (e.g. heat shock) activation of latent splicing is widespread across the human transcriptome, thus highlighting the possibility that latent splicing may underlie certain diseases. Consistent with this notion, our analyses of data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) revealed widespread activation of latent splicing in cells grown under hypoxia and in certain cancers such as breast cancer and gliomas. These changes were found in thousands of transcripts representing a wide variety of functional groups; among them are genes involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. The GEO analysis also revealed a set of gene transcripts in oligodendroglioma, in which the level of activation of latent splicing increased with the severity of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Nevo
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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Morgado A, Almeida F, Teixeira A, Silva AL, Romão L. Unspliced precursors of NMD-sensitive β-globin transcripts exhibit decreased steady-state levels in erythroid cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38505. [PMID: 22675570 PMCID: PMC3366927 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a quality control mechanism that detects and rapidly degrades mRNAs carrying premature translation-termination codons (PTCs). Mammalian NMD depends on both splicing and translation, and requires recognition of the premature stop codon by the cytoplasmic ribosomes. Surprisingly, some published data have suggested that nonsense codons may also affect the nuclear metabolism of the nonsense-mutated transcripts. To determine if nonsense codons could influence nuclear events, we have directly assessed the steady-state levels of the unspliced transcripts of wild-type and PTC-containing human β-globin genes stably transfected in mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells, after erythroid differentiation induction, or in HeLa cells. Our analyses by ribonuclease protection assays and reverse transcription-coupled quantitative PCR show that β-globin pre-mRNAs carrying NMD-competent PTCs, but not those containing a NMD-resistant PTC, exhibit a significant decrease in their steady-state levels relatively to the wild-type or to a missense-mutated β-globin pre-mRNA. On the contrary, in HeLa cells, human β-globin pre-mRNAs carrying NMD-competent PTCs accumulate at normal levels. Functional analyses of these pre-mRNAs in MEL cells demonstrate that their low steady-state levels do not reflect significantly lower pre-mRNA stabilities when compared to the normal control. Furthermore, our results also provide evidence that the relative splicing efficiencies of intron 1 and 2 are unaffected. This set of data highlights potential nuclear pathways that might be promoter- and/or cell line-specific, which recognize the NMD-sensitive transcripts as abnormal. These specialized nuclear pathway(s) may be superimposed on the general NMD mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Morgado
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
- BioFIG–Center for Biodiversity, Functional and Integrative Genomics, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Fátima Almeida
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Teixeira
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Genética Molecular Humana, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Silva
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
- BioFIG–Center for Biodiversity, Functional and Integrative Genomics, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luísa Romão
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
- BioFIG–Center for Biodiversity, Functional and Integrative Genomics, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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de Turris V, Nicholson P, Orozco RZ, Singer RH, Mühlemann O. Cotranscriptional effect of a premature termination codon revealed by live-cell imaging. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2011; 17:2094-107. [PMID: 22028363 PMCID: PMC3222123 DOI: 10.1261/rna.02918111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 08/30/2011] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant mRNAs with premature translation termination codons (PTCs) are recognized and eliminated by the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway in eukaryotes. We employed a novel live-cell imaging approach to investigate the kinetics of mRNA synthesis and release at the transcription site of PTC-containing (PTC+) and PTC-free (PTC-) immunoglobulin-μ reporter genes. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and photoconversion analyses revealed that PTC+ transcripts are specifically retained at the transcription site. Remarkably, the retained PTC+ transcripts are mainly unspliced, and this RNA retention is dependent upon two important NMD factors, UPF1 and SMG6, since their depletion led to the release of the PTC+ transcripts. Finally, ChIP analysis showed a physical association of UPF1 and SMG6 with both the PTC+ and the PTC- reporter genes in vivo. Collectively, our data support a mechanism for regulation of PTC+ transcripts at the transcription site.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pamela Nicholson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Oliver Mühlemann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Ruiz Z, Mihaylov IS, Cotmore SF, Tattersall P. Recruitment of DNA replication and damage response proteins to viral replication centers during infection with NS2 mutants of Minute Virus of Mice (MVM). Virology 2010; 410:375-84. [PMID: 21193212 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2010.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2010] [Revised: 11/09/2010] [Accepted: 12/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
MVM NS2 is essential for viral DNA amplification, but its mechanism of action is unknown. A classification scheme for autonomous parvovirus-associated replication (APAR) center development, based on NS1 distribution, was used to characterize abnormal APAR body maturation in NS2null mutant infections, and their organization examined for defects in host protein recruitment. Since acquisition of known replication factors appeared normal, we looked for differences in invoked DNA damage responses. We observed widespread association of H2AX/MDC1 damage response foci with viral replication centers, and sequestration and complex hyperphosphorylation of RPA(32), which occurred in wildtype and mutant infections. Quantifying these responses by western transfer indicated that both wildtype and NS2 mutant MVM elicited ATM activation, while phosphorylation of ATR, already basally activated in asynchronous A9 cells, was downregulated. We conclude that MVM infection invokes multiple damage responses that influence the APAR environment, but that NS2 does not modify the recruitment of cellular proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zandra Ruiz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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Imam JS, Gudikote JP, Chan WK, Wilkinson MF. Frame-disrupting mutations elicit pre-mRNA accumulation independently of frame disruption. Nucleic Acids Res 2009; 38:1559-74. [PMID: 20007599 PMCID: PMC2836556 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkp1115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The T-cell receptor (TCR) and immunoglobulin (Ig) genes are unique among vertebrate genes in that they undergo programmed rearrangement, a process that allows them to generate an enormous array of receptors with different antigen specificities. While crucial for immune function, this rearrangement mechanism is highly error prone, often generating frameshift or nonsense mutations that render the rearranged TCR and Ig genes defective. Such frame-disrupting mutations have been reported to increase the level of TCRbeta and Igmicro pre-mRNA, suggesting the hypothesis that RNA processing is blocked when frame disruption is sensed. Using a chimeric gene that contains TCRbeta sequences conferring this upregulatory response, we provide evidence that pre-mRNA upregulation is neither frame- nor translation-dependent; instead, several lines of evidence suggested that it is the result of disrupted cis elements necessary for efficient RNA splicing. In particular, we identify the rearranging VDJ(beta) exon as being uniquely densely packed with exonic-splicing enhancers (ESEs), rendering this exon hypersensitive to mutational disruption. As the chimeric gene that we developed for these studies generates unusually stable nuclear pre-mRNAs that accumulate when challenged with ESE mutations, we suggest it can be used as a sensitive in vivo system to identify and characterize ESEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Saadi Imam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA
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12
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Abstract
The systems for mRNA surveillance, capping, and cleavage/polyadenylation are proposed to play pivotal roles in the physical establishment and distribution of spliceosomal introns along a transcript.
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Chang YF, Chan WK, Imam JS, Wilkinson MF. Alternatively Spliced T-cell Receptor Transcripts Are Up-regulated in Response to Disruption of Either Splicing Elements or Reading Frame. J Biol Chem 2007; 282:29738-47. [PMID: 17693403 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m704372200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonsense mutations create premature termination codons (PTCs), leading to the generation of truncated proteins, some of which have deleterious gain-of-function or dominant-negative activity. Protecting cells from such aberrant proteins is non-sense-mediated decay (NMD), an RNA surveillance pathway that degrades transcripts harboring PTCs. A second response to nonsense mutations is the up-regulation of alternatively spliced transcripts that skip the PTC. This nonsense-associated altered splicing (NAS) response has the potential to rescue protein function, but the mechanism by which it is triggered has been controversial. Some studies suggest that, like NMD, NAS is triggered as a result of nonsense mutations disrupting reading frame, whereas other studies suggest that NAS is triggered when nonsense mutations disrupt exonic splicing enhancers (ESEs). Using T-cell receptor-beta (TCRbeta), which naturally acquires PTCs at high frequency, we provide evidence that both mechanisms act on a single type of mRNA. Mutations that disrupt consensus ESE sites up-regulated an alternatively spliced TCRbeta transcript that skipped the mutations independently of reading frame disruption and the NMD factor UPF1. In contrast, reading frame-disrupting mutations that did not disrupt consensus ESE sites elicited UPF1-dependent up-regulation of the alternatively spliced TCRbeta transcript. Restoration of reading frame prevented this up-regulation. Our results suggest that the response of an mRNA to a nonsense mutation depends on its context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Fu Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Buvoli M, Buvoli A, Leinwand LA. Interplay between exonic splicing enhancers, mRNA processing, and mRNA surveillance in the dystrophic Mdx mouse. PLoS One 2007; 2:e427. [PMID: 17487273 PMCID: PMC1855434 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2007] [Accepted: 04/15/2007] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pre-mRNA splicing, the removal of introns from RNA, takes place within the spliceosome, a macromolecular complex composed of five small nuclear RNAs and a large number of associated proteins. Spliceosome assembly is modulated by the 5′ and 3′ splice site consensus sequences situated at the ends of each intron, as well as by exonic and intronic splicing enhancers/silencers recognized by SR and hnRNP proteins. Nonsense mutations introducing a premature termination codon (PTC) often result in the activation of cellular quality control systems that reduce mRNA levels or alter the mRNA splicing pattern. The mdx mouse, a commonly used genetic model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), lacks dystrophin by virtue of a premature termination codon (PTC) in exon 23 that also severely reduces the level of dystrophin mRNA. However, the effect of the mutation on dystrophin RNA processing has not yet been described. Methodology/Principal Finding Using combinations of different biochemical and cellular assays, we found that the mdx mutation partially disrupts a multisite exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) that is recognized by a 40 kDa SR protein. In spite of the presence of an inefficient intron 22 3′ splice site containing the rare GAG triplet, the mdx mutation does not activate nonsense-associated altered splicing (NAS), but induces exclusively nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Functional binding sites for SR proteins were also identified in exon 22 and 24, and in vitro experiments show that SR proteins can mediate direct association between exon 22, 23, and 24. Conclusions/Significance Our findings highlight the complex crosstalk between trans-acting factors, cis-elements and the RNA surveillance machinery occurring during dystrophin mRNA processing. Moreover, they suggest that dystrophin exon–exon interactions could play an important role in preventing mdx exon 23 skipping, as well as in facilitating the pairing of committed splice sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Buvoli
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Ada Buvoli
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Leslie A. Leinwand
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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Kamhi E, Yahalom G, Kass G, Hacham Y, Sperling R, Sperling J. AUG sequences are required to sustain nonsense-codon-mediated suppression of splicing. Nucleic Acids Res 2006; 34:3421-33. [PMID: 16855285 PMCID: PMC1524910 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkl390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2006] [Revised: 05/05/2006] [Accepted: 05/08/2006] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 90% of human genes are rich in intronic latent 5' splice sites whose utilization in pre-mRNA splicing would introduce in-frame stop codons into the resultant mRNAs. We have therefore hypothesized that suppression of splicing (SOS) at latent 5' splice sites regulates alternative 5' splice site selection in a way that prevents the production of toxic nonsense mRNAs and verified this idea by showing that the removal of such in-frame stop codons is sufficient to activate latent splicing. Splicing control by SOS requires recognition of the mRNA reading frame, presumably recognizing the start codon sequence. Here we show that AUG sequences are indeed essential for SOS. Although protein translation does not seem to be required for SOS, the first AUG is shown here to be necessary but not sufficient. We further show that latent splicing can be elicited upon treatment with pactamycin-a drug known to block translation by its ability to recognize an RNA fold-but not by treatment with other drugs that inhibit translation through other mechanisms. The effect of pactamycin on SOS is dependent neither on steady-state translation nor on the pioneer round of translation. This effect is found for both transfected and endogenous genes, indicating that SOS is a natural mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Kamhi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science RehovotIsrael
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew UniversityJerusalem, Israel
| | - Galit Yahalom
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science RehovotIsrael
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew UniversityJerusalem, Israel
| | - Gideon Kass
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science RehovotIsrael
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew UniversityJerusalem, Israel
| | - Yael Hacham
- Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science RehovotIsrael
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew UniversityJerusalem, Israel
| | - Ruth Sperling
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew UniversityJerusalem, Israel
| | - Joseph Sperling
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: 972 8 934 2509; Fax: 972 8 934 4142;
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16
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Gudikote JP, Imam JS, Garcia RF, Wilkinson MF. RNA splicing promotes translation and RNA surveillance. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2005; 12:801-9. [PMID: 16116435 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2005] [Accepted: 07/19/2005] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant mRNAs harboring premature termination codons (PTCs or nonsense codons) are degraded by the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway. mRNAs transcribed from genes that naturally acquire PTCs during lymphocyte development are strongly downregulated by PTCs. Here we show that a signal essential for this robust mRNA downregulatory response is efficient RNA splicing. Strong mRNA downregulation can be conferred on a poor NMD substrate by either strengthening its splicing signals or removing its weak introns. Efficient splicing also strongly promotes translation, providing a molecular explanation for enhanced NMD and suggesting that efficient splicing may have evolved to enhance both protein production and RNA surveillance. Our results suggest simple approaches for increasing protein expression from expression vectors and treating human genetic diseases caused by nonsense and frameshift mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayanthi P Gudikote
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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17
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Zhang Z, Krainer AR. Involvement of SR Proteins in mRNA Surveillance. Mol Cell 2004; 16:597-607. [PMID: 15546619 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2004.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2004] [Revised: 09/09/2004] [Accepted: 10/26/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Nonsense mutations influence several aspects of gene expression, including mRNA stability and splicing fidelity, but the mechanism by which premature termination codons (PTCs) can apparently affect splice-site selection remains elusive. We used a model human beta-globin gene with duplicated 5' splice sites (5'ss) and found that PTCs inserted between the two 5'ss do not directly influence splicing in this system. Instead, their apparent effect on 5'ss selection in vivo is an indirect result of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), as conditions that eliminated NMD also abrogated the effect on splicing. Remarkably, we found an unexpected function of SR proteins in targeting several mRNAs with PTCs to the NMD pathway. Overexpression of various SR proteins strongly enhanced NMD, and this effect required an RS domain. Our data argue against a universal role of PTCs in regulating pre-mRNA splicing and reveal an additional function of SR proteins in eukaryotic gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuo Zhang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
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18
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Lytle JR, Steitz JA. Premature termination codons do not affect the rate of splicing of neighboring introns. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2004; 10:657-68. [PMID: 15037775 PMCID: PMC1370556 DOI: 10.1261/rna.5241404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2003] [Accepted: 12/29/2003] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Introduction of a premature termination codon (PTC) into an exon of a gene can lead to nonsense-mediated decay of the mRNA, which is best characterized as a cytoplasmic event. However, increasing evidence has suggested that PTCs may also influence the nuclear processing of an RNA transcript, leading to models of nuclear surveillance perhaps involving translating nuclear ribosomes. We used quantitative RT-PCR to measure the in vivo steady-state levels of every exon-intron junction in wild-type, PTC-containing, and missense-containing precursor mRNAs of both the nonrearranging dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and the somatically rearranging Ig- micro genes. We find that each exon-intron junction's abundance and, therefore, the rate of intron removal, is not significantly affected by the presence of a PTC in a neighboring exon in either the DHFR or Ig- micro pre-mRNA. Similarly, the abundance of the uncleaved Ig- micro polyadenylation sites does not differ between wild-type and PTC-containing Ig- micro pre-mRNAs. Our Ig- micro data were confirmed by RNase protection analyses, and multiple cell isolates were examined to resolve differences with previously published data on steady-state pre-mRNA levels. We conclude that the presence of a PTC affects the rate of neither splicing nor the cleavage step of 3' end formation during pre-mRNA processing in the nucleus. Our results are discussed with respect to existing evidence for nuclear surveillance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Robin Lytle
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06536, USA
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19
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Abstract
Recently, several reports have been published in support of the idea that protein synthesis occurs in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. This proposal has generated a great deal of excitement because, if true, it would mean that our thinking about the compartmentalization of cell functions would have to be re-evaluated. The significance and broad implications of this phenomenon require that the experimental evidence used to support it be carefully evaluated. Here, we critique the published evidence in support of, or in opposition to, the question of whether translation occurs in the nucleus. Arguments in support of nuclear translation focus on three issues: (1) the presence of translation factors and ribosomal components in the nucleus, and their recruitment to sites of transcription; (2) amino acid incorporation in isolated nuclei and in nuclei under conditions that should not permit protein import; and (3) the fact that nuclear translation would account for observations that are otherwise difficult to explain. Arguments against nuclear translation emphasize the absence (or low abundance) from nuclei of many translation factors; the likely inactivity of nascent ribosomes; and the loss of translation activity as nuclei are purified from contaminating cytoplasm. In our opinion, all of the experiments on nuclear translation published to date lack critical controls and, therefore, are not compelling; also, traditional mechanisms can explain the observations for which nuclear translation has been invoked. Thus, while we cannot rule out nuclear translation, in the absence of better supporting data we are reluctant to believe it occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Dahlberg
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53706, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Moore
- Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
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21
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Mendell JT, ap Rhys CMJ, Dietz HC. Separable roles for rent1/hUpf1 in altered splicing and decay of nonsense transcripts. Science 2002; 298:419-22. [PMID: 12228722 DOI: 10.1126/science.1074428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The mechanism by which disruption of reading frame can influence pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) processing is poorly understood. We assessed the role of factors essential for nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in nonsense-mediated altered splicing (NAS) with the use of RNA interference (RNAi) in mammalian cells. Inhibition of rent1/hUpf1 expression abrogated both NMD and NAS of nonsense T cell receptor beta transcripts. In contrast, inhibition of rent2/hUpf2 expression did not disrupt NAS despite achieving comparable stabilization of nonsense transcripts. We also demonstrate that NAS and NMD are genetically separable functions of rent1/hUpf1. Additionally, rent1/hUpf1 enters the nucleus where it may directly influence early events in mRNA biogenesis. This provides compelling evidence that NAS relies on a component of the nonsense surveillance machinery but is not an indirect consequence of NMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T Mendell
- Institute of Genetic Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 858 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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22
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Miriami E, Motro U, Sperling J, Sperling R. Conservation of an open-reading frame as an element affecting 5' splice site selection. J Struct Biol 2002; 140:116-22. [PMID: 12490159 DOI: 10.1016/s1047-8477(02)00539-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Splice site selection is a key element of pre-mRNA splicing and involves specific recognition of consensus sequences at the 5(') and 3(') splice sites. Evidently, the compliance of a given sequence with the consensus 5(') splice site sequence is not sufficient to define it as a functional 5(') splice site, because not all sequences that conform with the consensus are used for splicing. We have previously hypothesized that the necessity to avoid the inclusion of premature termination codons within mature mRNAs may serve as a criterion that differentiates normal 5(') splice sites from unused (latent) ones. We further provided experimental support to this idea, by analyzing the splicing of pre-mRNAs in which in-frame stop codons upstream of a latent 5(') splice site were mutated, and showing that splicing using the latent site is indeed activated by such mutations. Here we evaluate this hypothesis by a computerized survey for latent 5(') splice sites in 446 protein-coding human genes. This data set contains 2311 introns, in which we found 10490 latent 5(') splice sites. The utilization of 10045 (95.8%) of these sites for splicing would have led to the inclusion of an in-frame stop codon within the resultant mRNA. The validity of this finding is confirmed here by statistical analyses. This finding, together with our previous experimental results, invokes a nuclear scanning mechanism, as part of the splicing machine, which identifies in-frame stop codons within the pre-mRNA and prevents splicing that could lead to the formation of a prematurely terminated protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elana Miriami
- Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
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23
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Maquat LE. NASty effects on fibrillin pre-mRNA splicing: another case of ESE does it, but proposals for translation-dependent splice site choice live on. Genes Dev 2002; 16:1743-53. [PMID: 12130534 DOI: 10.1101/gad.1014502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lynne E Maquat
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
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24
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Wang J, Hamilton JI, Carter MS, Li S, Wilkinson MF. Alternatively spliced TCR mRNA induced by disruption of reading frame. Science 2002; 297:108-10. [PMID: 12098701 DOI: 10.1126/science.1069757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Nonsense codons that prematurely terminate translation generate potentially deleterious truncated proteins. Here, we show that the T cell receptor-beta (TCRbeta) gene, which acquires in-frame nonsense codons at high frequency during normal lymphocyte development, gives rise to an alternatively spliced transcript [alternative messenger RNA (alt-mRNA)] that skips the offending mutations that generate such nonsense codons. This alt-mRNA is up-regulated by a transfer RNA-dependent scanning mechanism that responds specifically to mutations that disrupt the reading frame. The finding that translation signals regulate the levels of alternatively spliced mRNAs generated in the nucleus may alter the current view of how gene expression is controlled in eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Box 180, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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25
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26
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Li B, Wachtel C, Miriami E, Yahalom G, Friedlander G, Sharon G, Sperling R, Sperling J. Stop codons affect 5' splice site selection by surveillance of splicing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:5277-82. [PMID: 11959978 PMCID: PMC122760 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.082095299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-mRNA splicing involves recognition of a consensus sequence at the 5' splice site (SS). However, only some of the many potential sites that conform to the consensus are true ones, whereas the majority remain silent and are not normally used for splicing. We noticed that in most cases the utilization of such a latent intronic 5' SS for splicing would introduce an in-frame stop codon into the resultant mRNA. This finding suggested a link between SS selection and maintenance of an ORF within the mRNA. Here we tested this idea by analyzing the splicing of pre-mRNAs in which in-frame stop codons upstream of a latent 5' SS were mutated. We found that splicing with the latent site is indeed activated by such mutations. Our findings predict the existence of a checking mechanism, as a component of the nuclear pre-mRNA splicing machine, to ensure the maintenance of an ORF. This notion is highly important for accurate gene expression, as perturbations that would lead to splicing at these latent sites are expected to introduce in-frame stop codons into the majority of mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binghui Li
- Department of Genetics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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27
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Cartegni L, Chew SL, Krainer AR. Listening to silence and understanding nonsense: exonic mutations that affect splicing. Nat Rev Genet 2002; 3:285-98. [PMID: 11967553 DOI: 10.1038/nrg775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1597] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Point mutations in the coding regions of genes are commonly assumed to exert their effects by altering single amino acids in the encoded proteins. However, there is increasing evidence that many human disease genes harbour exonic mutations that affect pre-mRNA splicing. Nonsense, missense and even translationally silent mutations can inactivate genes by inducing the splicing machinery to skip the mutant exons. Similarly, coding-region single-nucleotide polymorphisms might cause phenotypic variability by influencing splicing accuracy or efficiency. As the splicing mechanisms that depend on exonic signals are elucidated, new therapeutic approaches to treating certain genetic diseases can begin to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Cartegni
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, PO Box 100, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
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28
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Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, translation is thought to be confined to cytoplasm, but two recent studies have challenged this notion, one showing that an mRNA's open reading frame influences nuclear events as early as release from the site of transcription, and the other by providing evidence for protein synthesis within the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Brogna
- Brandeis University, Department of Biology, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, USA.
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29
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Mühlemann O, Mock-Casagrande CS, Wang J, Li S, Custódio N, Carmo-Fonseca M, Wilkinson MF, Moore MJ. Precursor RNAs harboring nonsense codons accumulate near the site of transcription. Mol Cell 2001; 8:33-43. [PMID: 11511358 DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(01)00288-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Messenger RNAs containing premature termination codons (PTCs) are selectively eliminated by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Paradoxically, although cytoplasmic ribosomes are the only known species capable of PTC recognition, in mammals many PTC-containing mRNAs are apparently eliminated prior to release from the nucleus. To determine whether PTCs can influence events within the nucleus proper, we studied the immunoglobulin (Ig)-mu and T cell receptor (TCR)-beta genes using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Alleles containing PTCs, but not those containing a missense mutation or a frameshift followed by frame-correcting mutations, exhibited elevated levels of pre-mRNA, which accumulated at or near the site of transcription. Our data indicate that mRNA reading frame can influence events at or near the site of gene transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Mühlemann
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, W.M. Keck Center for Cellular Visualization, Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
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