Correct in vivo splicing of the mouse immunoglobulin kappa light-chain pre-mRNA is dependent on 5' splice-site position even in the absence of transcription

In vivo studies of gene expression via transient transgenesis using lipid-DNA delivery

As the sequencing of the human genome proceeds, the need for a new screen for in vivo function is becoming apparent. Many investigators are turning to various transgenic models as a means of studying function. However, these approaches are very time consuming, with a transgene-expressing mouse model often taking months to establish. We have developed an efficient system for delivering genes in vivo, which allows the gene product to be studied as early as 24 h after introduction into the mouse model. The delivery system employs a novel cationic lipid, 1-[2-(9-(Z)-octadecenoyloxy)ethyl]-2-(8-(Z)-heptadecenyl)-3- (hydroxyethyl)imidazolinium chloride (DOTIM), and a neutral lipid, cholesterol, complexed with an expression vector containing the reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT). After a single intravenous injection of these complexes, several tissues were seen to express the transgene. High, persistent expression in the vascular endothelial cells in the mouse lung was obtained. Delivery of DNA in vivo has been evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and protein expression by CAT activity assays. In vivo studies showed reproducible expression in more than 500 mice injected via the tail vein. An early peak of expression was followed by lower, but sustained, expression for > 50 days. Transgene expression of CAT could also be identified by immunohistochemistry staining in mouse lung and appeared to be located within the capillaries. The pattern of in vivo expression could be modulated and targeted to specific organs by altering the lipid-DNA formulation. New expression vectors with altered introns and polyadenylation sites further improved expression. The expression reported here may be sufficient in magnitude, duration, and flexibility to be an attractive alternative, in some cases, to establishing transgenic animals by stable gene transfer.

Lack of an effect of the efficiency of RNA 3'-end formation on the efficiency of removal of either the final or the penultimate intron in intact cells

Evidence exists from studies using intact cells that intron removal can be influenced by the reactivity of upstream and downstream splice sites and that cleavage and polyadenylation can be influenced by the reactivity of upstream splice sites. These results indicate that sequences within 3'-terminal introns can function in the removal of upstream introns as well as the formation of RNA 3' ends. Evidence from studies using intact cells for an influence of RNA 3'-end formation on intron removal is lacking. We report here that mutations within polyadenylation sequences that either decrease or increase the efficiency of RNA 3'-end formation have no effect on the efficiencies with which either the 3'-terminal or the penultimate intron is removed by splicing. Northern (RNA) blot hybridization, RNase mapping, and an assay that couples reverse transcription and PCR were used to analyze the effects of deletions and a substitution of the polyadenylation sequences within the human gene for triosephosphate isomerase (TPI). TPI pre-mRNA harbors six introns that are constitutively removed by splicing. Relative to normal levels, each of the deletions was found to reduce the nuclear and cytoplasmic levels of TPI mRNA, increase the nuclear level of unprocessed RNA 3' ends, and decrease the nuclear level of processed RNA 3' ends. The simplest interpretation of these data indicates that (i) the rate of 3'-end formation normally limits the amount of mRNA produced and (ii) the deletions decrease and the substitution increases the efficiency of RNA 3'-end formation. While each of the deletions and the substitution altered the absolute levels of intron 6-containing, intron 5-containing, intron 6-free, and intron 5-free RNAs, in no case was there an abnormal ratio of intron-containing to intron-free RNA for either intron. Therefore, at least for TPI RNA, while the efficiency of removal of the 3'-terminal intron influences the efficiency of removal of either the 3'-end formation, the efficiency of RNA 3'-end formation does not influence the efficiency of removal of either the 3'-terminal or penultimate intron. The dependence of TPI RNA 3'-end formation on splicing may reflect the suboptimal strengths of the corresponding regulatory sequences and may function to ensure that TPI pre-mRNA is not released from the chromatin template until it has formed a complex with spliceosomes. If so, then the independence of TPI RNA splicing on 3'-end formation may be rationalized by the lack of a comparable function.

Order of intron removal during splicing of endogenous adenine phosphoribosyltransferase and dihydrofolate reductase pre-mRNA

Using a strategy based on reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction, we have determined the order of splicing of the four introns of the endogenous adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (aprt) gene in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The method involves a pairwise comparison of molecules that retain one intron and have either retained or spliced another intron(s). A highly preferred order of removal was found: intron 3 > 2 > 4 = 1. This order did not represent a linear progression from one end of the transcript to the other, nor did it correlate with the conformity of the splice site sequences to the consensus sequences or to the calculated energy of duplex formation with U1 small nuclear RNA. By using actinomycin D to inhibit RNA synthesis, the in vivo rate of the first step in splicing was estimated for all four introns; a half-life of 6 min was found for introns 2, 3, and 4. Intron 1 was spliced more slowly, with a 12-min half-life. A substantial amount of RNA that retained intron 1 as the sole intron was exported to the cytoplasm. In the course of these experiments, we also determined that intron 3, but not intron 4, is spliced before 3'-end formation is complete, probably on nascent transcripts. This result is consistent with the idea that polyadenylation is required for splicing of the 3'-most intron. We applied a similar strategy to determine the last intron to be spliced in a very large transcript, that of the endogenous dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene in Chinese hamster ovary cells (25 kb). Here again, intron 1 was the last intron to be spliced.

Order of intron removal during splicing of endogenous adenine phosphoribosyltransferase and dihydrofolate reductase pre-mRNA

Using a strategy based on reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction, we have determined the order of splicing of the four introns of the endogenous adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (aprt) gene in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The method involves a pairwise comparison of molecules that retain one intron and have either retained or spliced another intron(s). A highly preferred order of removal was found: intron 3 > 2 > 4 = 1. This order did not represent a linear progression from one end of the transcript to the other, nor did it correlate with the conformity of the splice site sequences to the consensus sequences or to the calculated energy of duplex formation with U1 small nuclear RNA. By using actinomycin D to inhibit RNA synthesis, the in vivo rate of the first step in splicing was estimated for all four introns; a half-life of 6 min was found for introns 2, 3, and 4. Intron 1 was spliced more slowly, with a 12-min half-life. A substantial amount of RNA that retained intron 1 as the sole intron was exported to the cytoplasm. In the course of these experiments, we also determined that intron 3, but not intron 4, is spliced before 3'-end formation is complete, probably on nascent transcripts. This result is consistent with the idea that polyadenylation is required for splicing of the 3'-most intron. We applied a similar strategy to determine the last intron to be spliced in a very large transcript, that of the endogenous dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene in Chinese hamster ovary cells (25 kb). Here again, intron 1 was the last intron to be spliced.

Splicing mutants and their second-site suppressors at the dihydrofolate reductase locus in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Point mutants induced with a variety of mutagens at the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) locus in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were screened for aberrantly spliced dhfr mRNA by RNase protection and/or reverse transcriptase coupled with cDNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of 115 mutants screened, 28 were found to be affected in splicing. All exhibited less than 1% correct splicing, probably because the selection procedure was stringent. All 26 unique mutations were located within the consensus splice sequences; changes were found at 9 of 10 possible sites in this 25-kb six-exon gene. Mutations at the sites flanking the first and last exons resulted in the efficient recruitment of a cryptic site within each exon. In contrast, mutations bordering internal exons caused predominantly exon skipping. In many cases, multiple exons were skipped, suggesting the clustering of adjacent exons prior to actual splicing. Six mutations fell outside the well-conserved GU and AG dinucleotides. All but one were donor site single-base substitutions that decreased the agreement with the consensus and resulted in little or no correct splicing. Starting with five of these donor site mutants, we isolated 31 DHFR+ revertants. Most revertants carried a single-base substitution at a site other than that of the original mutation, and most had only partially regained the ability to splice correctly. The second-site suppression occurred through a variety of mechanisms: (i) a second change within the consensus sequence that produced a better agreement with the consensus; (ii) a change close to but beyond the consensus boundaries, as far as 8 bases upstream in the exon or 28 bases downstream in the intron; (iii) mutations in an apparent pseudo 5' site in the intron, 84 and 88 bases downstream of a donor site; and (iv) mutations that improved the upstream acceptor site of the affected exon. Taken together, these second-site suppressor mutations extend the definition of a splice site beyond the consensus sequence.

Splicing mutants and their second-site suppressors at the dihydrofolate reductase locus in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Point mutants induced with a variety of mutagens at the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) locus in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were screened for aberrantly spliced dhfr mRNA by RNase protection and/or reverse transcriptase coupled with cDNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of 115 mutants screened, 28 were found to be affected in splicing. All exhibited less than 1% correct splicing, probably because the selection procedure was stringent. All 26 unique mutations were located within the consensus splice sequences; changes were found at 9 of 10 possible sites in this 25-kb six-exon gene. Mutations at the sites flanking the first and last exons resulted in the efficient recruitment of a cryptic site within each exon. In contrast, mutations bordering internal exons caused predominantly exon skipping. In many cases, multiple exons were skipped, suggesting the clustering of adjacent exons prior to actual splicing. Six mutations fell outside the well-conserved GU and AG dinucleotides. All but one were donor site single-base substitutions that decreased the agreement with the consensus and resulted in little or no correct splicing. Starting with five of these donor site mutants, we isolated 31 DHFR+ revertants. Most revertants carried a single-base substitution at a site other than that of the original mutation, and most had only partially regained the ability to splice correctly. The second-site suppression occurred through a variety of mechanisms: (i) a second change within the consensus sequence that produced a better agreement with the consensus; (ii) a change close to but beyond the consensus boundaries, as far as 8 bases upstream in the exon or 28 bases downstream in the intron; (iii) mutations in an apparent pseudo 5' site in the intron, 84 and 88 bases downstream of a donor site; and (iv) mutations that improved the upstream acceptor site of the affected exon. Taken together, these second-site suppressor mutations extend the definition of a splice site beyond the consensus sequence.

Exon skipping without splice site mutation accounting for abnormal immunoglobulin chains in nonsecretory human myeloma

The proliferating plasma cells of patient COM with nonsecretory myeloma synthesized truncated 42 kDa gamma 1 chains made of a complete constant region but devoid of variable domain. In the absence of light chain expression, the shortened gamma chains were retained intracellularly and were subsequently degraded within 12 h. COM neoplastic plasma cells contained short gamma 1 heavy chain transcripts in which the leader peptide exon was directly joined to the CH1 exon using the regular splice sites. However, study of the productive gamma gene showed that the skipped variable exon was bounded by normal splicing signals and that the adjacent intron organization was not altered. Since this unusual splicing pattern was maintained when COM gamma gene was transfected in murine plasmocytoma cells, exon skipping possibly relates to the modified structure of COM variable region. The latter showed a 2-base pair deletion introducing a translation frameshift in the VH region and a DNA insertion at the VH-DJH junction consisting in a perfect duplication of the first 54 nucleotides of the recombined DJH segment. The lack of light chain production by COM cells was explained by alterations of the variable region of the rearranged kappa gene leading to abnormally spliced transcripts.

Direct selection for mutations affecting specific splice sites in a hamster dihydrofolate reductase minigene

A Chinese hamster cell line containing an extra exon 2 (50 bp) inserted into a single intron of a dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) minigene was constructed. The extra exon 2 was efficiently spliced into the RNA, resulting in an mRNA that is incapable of coding for the DHFR enzyme. Mutations that decreased splicing of this extra exon 2 caused it to be skipped and so produced normal dhfr mRNA. In contrast to the parental cell line, the splicing mutants display a DHFR-positive growth phenotype. Splicing mutants were isolated from this cell line after treatment with four different mutagens (racemic benzo[c]phenanthrene diol epoxide, ethyl methanesulfonate, ethyl nitrosourea, and UV irradiation). By polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct DNA sequencing, we determined the base changes in 66 mutants. Each of the mutagens generated highly specific base changes. All mutations were single-base substitutions and comprised 24 different changes distributed over 16 positions. Most of the mutations were within the consensus sequences at the exon 2 splice donor, acceptor, and branch sites. The RNA splicing patterns in the mutants were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The recruitment of cryptic sites was rarely seen; simple exon skipping was the predominant mutant phenotype. The wide variety of mutations that produced exon skipping suggests that this phenotype is the typical consequence of splice site damage and supports the exon definition model of splice site selection. A few mutations were located outside the consensus sequences, in the exon or between the branch point and the polypyrimidine tract, identifying additional positions that play a role in splice site definition. That most of these 66 mutations fell within consensus sequences in this near-saturation mutagenesis suggests that splicing signals beyond the consensus may consist of robust RNA structures.

Direct selection for mutations affecting specific splice sites in a hamster dihydrofolate reductase minigene

A Chinese hamster cell line containing an extra exon 2 (50 bp) inserted into a single intron of a dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) minigene was constructed. The extra exon 2 was efficiently spliced into the RNA, resulting in an mRNA that is incapable of coding for the DHFR enzyme. Mutations that decreased splicing of this extra exon 2 caused it to be skipped and so produced normal dhfr mRNA. In contrast to the parental cell line, the splicing mutants display a DHFR-positive growth phenotype. Splicing mutants were isolated from this cell line after treatment with four different mutagens (racemic benzo[c]phenanthrene diol epoxide, ethyl methanesulfonate, ethyl nitrosourea, and UV irradiation). By polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct DNA sequencing, we determined the base changes in 66 mutants. Each of the mutagens generated highly specific base changes. All mutations were single-base substitutions and comprised 24 different changes distributed over 16 positions. Most of the mutations were within the consensus sequences at the exon 2 splice donor, acceptor, and branch sites. The RNA splicing patterns in the mutants were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The recruitment of cryptic sites was rarely seen; simple exon skipping was the predominant mutant phenotype. The wide variety of mutations that produced exon skipping suggests that this phenotype is the typical consequence of splice site damage and supports the exon definition model of splice site selection. A few mutations were located outside the consensus sequences, in the exon or between the branch point and the polypyrimidine tract, identifying additional positions that play a role in splice site definition. That most of these 66 mutations fell within consensus sequences in this near-saturation mutagenesis suggests that splicing signals beyond the consensus may consist of robust RNA structures.

Transcription of germ line V alpha segments correlates with ongoing T-cell receptor alpha-chain rearrangement

M14T is a virally transformed immature T-cell line which continues to rearrange its T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) alpha-chain genes in vitro and thus represents a dynamic system for studying TCR assembly. In an effort to investigate whether the TCR alpha locus is accessible for V(D)J rearrangement events, we examined M14T cells for the presence of germ line TCR alpha transcripts. Several unrearranged V alpha segments were found to be transcriptionally active in M14T cells. By comparison, germ line V alpha transcripts are absent in nonlymphoid and pro-T-cell lines and barely detectable in mature T-cell lines, suggesting that this phenomenon is likely stage and tissue specific. We demonstrate a perfect correlation between transcriptionally active V alpha segments and their involvement in ongoing V alpha-to-J alpha rearrangements. In addition, data suggesting that the unrearranged J alpha locus is also transcriptionally active in the M14T line are presented. Furthermore, the recombination-activating genes RAG-1 and RAG-2 are differentially expressed, with RAG-2 detectable only by polymerase chain reaction, implying that very low levels of one of these gene products are sufficient to complement the other to facilitate VJ rearrangements. These findings provide the first direct evidence for an accessibility model of antigen receptor rearrangement in T cells.

Transcription of germ line V alpha segments correlates with ongoing T-cell receptor alpha-chain rearrangement

M14T is a virally transformed immature T-cell line which continues to rearrange its T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) alpha-chain genes in vitro and thus represents a dynamic system for studying TCR assembly. In an effort to investigate whether the TCR alpha locus is accessible for V(D)J rearrangement events, we examined M14T cells for the presence of germ line TCR alpha transcripts. Several unrearranged V alpha segments were found to be transcriptionally active in M14T cells. By comparison, germ line V alpha transcripts are absent in nonlymphoid and pro-T-cell lines and barely detectable in mature T-cell lines, suggesting that this phenomenon is likely stage and tissue specific. We demonstrate a perfect correlation between transcriptionally active V alpha segments and their involvement in ongoing V alpha-to-J alpha rearrangements. In addition, data suggesting that the unrearranged J alpha locus is also transcriptionally active in the M14T line are presented. Furthermore, the recombination-activating genes RAG-1 and RAG-2 are differentially expressed, with RAG-2 detectable only by polymerase chain reaction, implying that very low levels of one of these gene products are sufficient to complement the other to facilitate VJ rearrangements. These findings provide the first direct evidence for an accessibility model of antigen receptor rearrangement in T cells.

Localization of pre-messenger RNA at discrete nuclear sites

We have studied the nuclear localization of rhodamine-labeled pre-mRNA after microinjection into nuclei of cultured rat kidney epithelial cells. Intranuclear localization of the injected RNA was followed in the living cells by fluorescence microscopy and digital image processing. Injected human beta-globin pre-mRNA became localized in 30-60 discrete nuclear sites that were coincident with loci defined by monoclonal antibodies against small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (Sm) or another spliceosome component (SC-35) in parallel immunocytochemical studies on the same nuclei. Similar patterns of nuclear localization were observed with a rat proenkephalin pre-mRNA. Nuclear microinjection of an intronlacking beta-globin RNA, a splicing-defective beta-globin mutant pre-mRNA, or an antisense beta-globin pre-mRNA did not result in localization at discrete sites. These results indicate that pre-mRNA binds preferentially to nuclear Sm and SC-35 antibody-reactive sites in vivo and that the binding requires intron sequences.

Influences of separation and adjacent sequences on the use of alternative 5' splice sites

Single nucleotide changes to the sequence between two alternative 5' splice sites, separated by 25 nucleotides in a beta-globin gene derivative, caused substantial shifts in pre-mRNA splicing preferences, both in vivo and in vitro. An activating sequence for splicing was located. Models for the recognition by U1 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) of competing 5' splice sites were tested by altering the distance separating the two sites. Use of the upstream splice site declined sharply when it was separated from the downstream (natural) site by distances of 40 nucleotides or more. This effect was reversed in vivo, but not in vitro, by altering the upstream sequence to that of a consensus 5' splice site sequence. Dilution of an extract used for splicing in vitro shifted preferences when the sites were close towards the downstream site. We conclude that the mechanism of selection depends on the distance apart of the potential splice sites and that with close sites steric interference between factors bound to both sites may impede splicing and affect splicing preferences.

In vitro splicing of fibronectin pre-mRNAs

We have investigated the alternative splicing of the EIIIB exon of the rat fibronectin gene. Mini-gene constructs containing this exon and portions of adjacent introns and exons, when transfected into HeLa cells, are transcribed and spliced, but omit the EIIIB exon. In vitro, HeLa nuclear extracts similarly splice out (skip) the EIIIB exon from similarly structured transcripts. Therefore, the HeLa splicing apparatus recognizes as atypical the EIIIB exon and its flanking intron sequences, both in vivo and in vitro. We also report that alterations in the ionic conditions of the in vitro splicing reaction can promote the initiation of EIIIB exon inclusion, as reflected by the formation of intermediate and product RNAs related to the removal of the intron upstream of EIIIB. Processing of this intron correlates with the formation of complexes resembling intermediates in spliceosome assembly. The branch sites involved in this alternative processing pathway are rather distant from the EIIIB 3' splice site, and lie within a region which is well conserved in the fibronectin genes of other species. Thus, the intron upstream of EIIIB shows singular structure and behavior which probably have a bearing on the regulated alternative splicing of this exon.

Myosin light-chain 1/3 gene alternative splicing: cis regulation is based upon a hierarchical compatibility between splice sites

The mechanisms involved in the selective joining of appropriate 5' and 3' splice sites are still poorly understood in both constitutive and alternatively spliced genes. With two promoters associated with different exons, the myosin light-chain 1/3 gene generates two pre-mRNAs that also differ by the use of a pair of internal exons, 3 and 4, that are spliced in a mutually exclusive fashion. When the promoter upstream from exon 1 is used, only exon 4 is included. If the promoter upstream from exon 2 is used, only exon 3 is included. In an attempt to understand the molecular basis for the mutually exclusive behavior of these two exons and the basis of their specific selection, a number of minigene constructs containing exons 3 and 4 were tested in a variety of homologous or heterologous cis and trans environments. The results demonstrate that the mutually exclusive behavior of myosin light-chain exons 3 and 4 and selection between the two exons are cis regulated and are affected by the nature of the flanking sequences. Both exons competed for the common flanking 5' and 3' splice sites. Flanking exons were found that favored inclusion into mature mRNA of exon 3, exon 4, both, or neither, suggesting a specific cooperative interaction between certain 5' and 3' splice sites. Thus, alternative splicing of myosin light-chain 1/3 pre-mRNAs is regulated in cis by a hierarchy of compatibilities between pairs of 5' and 3' splice sites.

The simian virus 40 small-t intron, present in many common expression vectors, leads to aberrant splicing

Polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to identify aberrant splicing of the simian virus 40 small-t intron present in pRSVcat. We examined factors governing the selection and relative use of aberrant 5' splice sites derived from the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase-coding region. Our results indicated that transcripts from virtually any cDNA positioned upstream of the small-t intron could contain alternative 5' splice sites and therefore be subject to deletions within the protein-coding region.

Myosin light-chain 1/3 gene alternative splicing: cis regulation is based upon a hierarchical compatibility between splice sites

The mechanisms involved in the selective joining of appropriate 5' and 3' splice sites are still poorly understood in both constitutive and alternatively spliced genes. With two promoters associated with different exons, the myosin light-chain 1/3 gene generates two pre-mRNAs that also differ by the use of a pair of internal exons, 3 and 4, that are spliced in a mutually exclusive fashion. When the promoter upstream from exon 1 is used, only exon 4 is included. If the promoter upstream from exon 2 is used, only exon 3 is included. In an attempt to understand the molecular basis for the mutually exclusive behavior of these two exons and the basis of their specific selection, a number of minigene constructs containing exons 3 and 4 were tested in a variety of homologous or heterologous cis and trans environments. The results demonstrate that the mutually exclusive behavior of myosin light-chain exons 3 and 4 and selection between the two exons are cis regulated and are affected by the nature of the flanking sequences. Both exons competed for the common flanking 5' and 3' splice sites. Flanking exons were found that favored inclusion into mature mRNA of exon 3, exon 4, both, or neither, suggesting a specific cooperative interaction between certain 5' and 3' splice sites. Thus, alternative splicing of myosin light-chain 1/3 pre-mRNAs is regulated in cis by a hierarchy of compatibilities between pairs of 5' and 3' splice sites.

The simian virus 40 small-t intron, present in many common expression vectors, leads to aberrant splicing

Polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to identify aberrant splicing of the simian virus 40 small-t intron present in pRSVcat. We examined factors governing the selection and relative use of aberrant 5' splice sites derived from the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase-coding region. Our results indicated that transcripts from virtually any cDNA positioned upstream of the small-t intron could contain alternative 5' splice sites and therefore be subject to deletions within the protein-coding region.

Hierarchy for 5' splice site preference determined in vivo

The relationship between preferences among alternative 5' splice sites and their sequences has been investigated for 37 sequences by assessing their use in splicing relative to the 5' splice site of IVS-2 of rabbit beta-globin. There are strong correlations between the intrinsic strength of a 5' splice site and both the extent to which it resembles the consensus sequence and the calculated stability of its interactions with U1 small nuclear RNA. However, present methods of calculating either of the latter values do not allow predictions to be made of the relative preferences among a small number of sequences.

Nonsense mutations in the dihydrofolate reductase gene affect RNA processing

Steady-state dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) mRNA levels were decreased as a result of nonsense mutations in the dhfr gene. Thirteen DHFR-deficient mutants were isolated after treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells with UV irradiation. The positions of most point mutations were localized by RNA heteroduplex mapping, the mutated regions were isolated by cloning or by enzymatic amplification, and base changes were determined by DNA sequencing. Two of the mutants suffered large deletions that spanned the entire dhfr gene. The remaining 11 mutations consisted of nine single-base substitutions, one double-base substitution, and one single-base insertion. All of the single-base substitutions took place at the 3' position of a pyrimidine dinucleotide, supporting the idea that UV mutagenesis proceeds through the formation of pyrimidine dimers in mammalian cells. Of the 11 point mutations, 10 resulted in nonsense codons, either directly or by a frameshift, suggesting that the selection method favored a null phenotype. An examination of steady-state RNA levels in cells carrying these mutations and a comparison with similar data from other dhfr mutants (A. M. Carothers, R. W. Steigerwalt, G. Urlaub, L. A. Chasin, and D. Grunberger, J. Mol. Biol., in press) showed that translation termination mutations in any of the internal exons of the gene gave rise to a low-RNA phenotype, whereas missense mutations in these exons or terminations in exon 6 (the final exon) did not affect dhfr mRNA levels. Nuclear run-on experiments showed that transcription of the mutant genes was normal. The stability of mature dhfr mRNA also was not affected, since (i) decay rates were the same in wild-type and mutant cells after inhibition of RNA synthesis with actinomycin D and (ii) intronless minigene versions of cloned wild-type and nonsense mutant genes were expressed equally after stable transfection. We conclude that RNA processing has been affected by these nonsense mutations and present a model in which both splicing and nuclear transport of an RNA molecule are coupled to its translation. Curiously, the low-RNA mutant phenotype was not exhibited after transfer of the mutant genes, suggesting that the transcripts of transfected genes may be processed differently than are those of their endogenous counterparts.

Nonsense mutations in the dihydrofolate reductase gene affect RNA processing

Steady-state dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) mRNA levels were decreased as a result of nonsense mutations in the dhfr gene. Thirteen DHFR-deficient mutants were isolated after treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells with UV irradiation. The positions of most point mutations were localized by RNA heteroduplex mapping, the mutated regions were isolated by cloning or by enzymatic amplification, and base changes were determined by DNA sequencing. Two of the mutants suffered large deletions that spanned the entire dhfr gene. The remaining 11 mutations consisted of nine single-base substitutions, one double-base substitution, and one single-base insertion. All of the single-base substitutions took place at the 3' position of a pyrimidine dinucleotide, supporting the idea that UV mutagenesis proceeds through the formation of pyrimidine dimers in mammalian cells. Of the 11 point mutations, 10 resulted in nonsense codons, either directly or by a frameshift, suggesting that the selection method favored a null phenotype. An examination of steady-state RNA levels in cells carrying these mutations and a comparison with similar data from other dhfr mutants (A. M. Carothers, R. W. Steigerwalt, G. Urlaub, L. A. Chasin, and D. Grunberger, J. Mol. Biol., in press) showed that translation termination mutations in any of the internal exons of the gene gave rise to a low-RNA phenotype, whereas missense mutations in these exons or terminations in exon 6 (the final exon) did not affect dhfr mRNA levels. Nuclear run-on experiments showed that transcription of the mutant genes was normal. The stability of mature dhfr mRNA also was not affected, since (i) decay rates were the same in wild-type and mutant cells after inhibition of RNA synthesis with actinomycin D and (ii) intronless minigene versions of cloned wild-type and nonsense mutant genes were expressed equally after stable transfection. We conclude that RNA processing has been affected by these nonsense mutations and present a model in which both splicing and nuclear transport of an RNA molecule are coupled to its translation. Curiously, the low-RNA mutant phenotype was not exhibited after transfer of the mutant genes, suggesting that the transcripts of transfected genes may be processed differently than are those of their endogenous counterparts.