1
|
Girardini KN, Olthof AM, Kanadia RN. Introns: the "dark matter" of the eukaryotic genome. Front Genet 2023; 14:1150212. [PMID: 37260773 PMCID: PMC10228655 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1150212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of introns was a significant evolutionary leap that is a major distinguishing feature between prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. While historically introns were regarded merely as the sequences that are removed to produce spliced transcripts encoding functional products, increasingly data suggests that introns play important roles in the regulation of gene expression. Here, we use an intron-centric lens to review the role of introns in eukaryotic gene expression. First, we focus on intron architecture and how it may influence mechanisms of splicing. Second, we focus on the implications of spliceosomal snRNAs and their variants on intron splicing. Finally, we discuss how the presence of introns and the need to splice them influences transcription regulation. Despite the abundance of introns in the eukaryotic genome and their emerging role regulating gene expression, a lot remains unexplored. Therefore, here we refer to introns as the "dark matter" of the eukaryotic genome and discuss some of the outstanding questions in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin N. Girardini
- Physiology and Neurobiology Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Anouk M. Olthof
- Physiology and Neurobiology Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rahul N. Kanadia
- Physiology and Neurobiology Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mabin JW, Lewis PW, Brow DA, Dvinge H. Human spliceosomal snRNA sequence variants generate variant spliceosomes. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 27:1186-1203. [PMID: 34234030 PMCID: PMC8457000 DOI: 10.1261/rna.078768.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Human pre-mRNA splicing is primarily catalyzed by the major spliceosome, comprising five small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes, U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 snRNPs, each of which contains the corresponding U-rich snRNA. These snRNAs are encoded by large gene families exhibiting significant sequence variation, but it remains unknown if most human snRNA genes are untranscribed pseudogenes or produce variant snRNAs with the potential to differentially influence splicing. Since gene duplication and variation are powerful mechanisms of evolutionary adaptation, we sought to address this knowledge gap by systematically profiling human U1, U2, U4, and U5 snRNA variant gene transcripts. We identified 55 transcripts that are detectably expressed in human cells, 38 of which incorporate into snRNPs and spliceosomes in 293T cells. All U1 snRNA variants are more than 1000-fold less abundant in spliceosomes than the canonical U1, whereas at least 1% of spliceosomes contain a variant of U2 or U4. In contrast, eight U5 snRNA sequence variants occupy spliceosomes at levels of 1% to 46%. Furthermore, snRNA variants display distinct expression patterns across five human cell lines and adult and fetal tissues. Different RNA degradation rates contribute to the diverse steady state levels of snRNA variants. Our findings suggest that variant spliceosomes containing noncanonical snRNAs may contribute to different tissue- and cell-type-specific alternative splicing patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin W Mabin
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Peter W Lewis
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - David A Brow
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Heidi Dvinge
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Biology of the mRNA Splicing Machinery and Its Dysregulation in Cancer Providing Therapeutic Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105110. [PMID: 34065983 PMCID: PMC8150589 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) processing—in particular mRNA splicing—is a hallmark of cancer. Compared to normal cells, cancer cells frequently present aberrant mRNA splicing, which promotes cancer progression and treatment resistance. This hallmark provides opportunities for developing new targeted cancer treatments. Splicing of precursor mRNA into mature mRNA is executed by a dynamic complex of proteins and small RNAs called the spliceosome. Spliceosomes are part of the supraspliceosome, a macromolecular structure where all co-transcriptional mRNA processing activities in the cell nucleus are coordinated. Here we review the biology of the mRNA splicing machinery in the context of other mRNA processing activities in the supraspliceosome and present current knowledge of its dysregulation in lung cancer. In addition, we review investigations to discover therapeutic targets in the spliceosome and give an overview of inhibitors and modulators of the mRNA splicing process identified so far. Together, this provides insight into the value of targeting the spliceosome as a possible new treatment for lung cancer.
Collapse
|
4
|
Seal RL, Chen LL, Griffiths-Jones S, Lowe TM, Mathews MB, O'Reilly D, Pierce AJ, Stadler PF, Ulitsky I, Wolin SL, Bruford EA. A guide to naming human non-coding RNA genes. EMBO J 2020; 39:e103777. [PMID: 32090359 PMCID: PMC7073466 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019103777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is a rapidly expanding field. Providing an official gene symbol and name to ncRNA genes brings order to otherwise potential chaos as it allows unambiguous communication about each gene. The HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC, www.genenames.org) is the only group with the authority to approve symbols for human genes. The HGNC works with specialist advisors for different classes of ncRNA to ensure that ncRNA nomenclature is accurate and informative, where possible. Here, we review each major class of ncRNA that is currently annotated in the human genome and describe how each class is assigned a standardised nomenclature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth L Seal
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Ling-Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Sam Griffiths-Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Todd M Lowe
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Michael B Mathews
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Dawn O'Reilly
- Computational Biology and Integrative Genomics Lab, MRC/CRUK Oxford Institute and Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew J Pierce
- Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter F Stadler
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad National de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Colombia.,Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, USA
| | - Igor Ulitsky
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sandra L Wolin
- RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Elspeth A Bruford
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Dvinge H, Guenthoer J, Porter PL, Bradley RK. RNA components of the spliceosome regulate tissue- and cancer-specific alternative splicing. Genome Res 2019; 29:1591-1604. [PMID: 31434678 PMCID: PMC6771400 DOI: 10.1101/gr.246678.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs plays a pivotal role during the establishment and maintenance of human cell types. Characterizing the trans-acting regulatory proteins that control alternative splicing has therefore been the focus of much research. Recent work has established that even core protein components of the spliceosome, which are required for splicing to proceed, can nonetheless contribute to splicing regulation by modulating splice site choice. We here show that the RNA components of the spliceosome likewise influence alternative splicing decisions. Although these small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), termed U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 snRNA, are present in equal stoichiometry within the spliceosome, we found that their relative levels vary by an order of magnitude during development, across tissues, and across cancer samples. Physiologically relevant perturbation of individual snRNAs drove widespread gene-specific differences in alternative splicing but not transcriptome-wide splicing failure. Genes that were particularly sensitive to variations in snRNA abundance in a breast cancer cell line model were likewise preferentially misspliced within a clinically diverse cohort of invasive breast ductal carcinomas. As aberrant mRNA splicing is prevalent in many cancers, we propose that a full understanding of such dysregulated pre-mRNA processing requires study of snRNAs, as well as protein splicing factors. Together, our data show that the RNA components of the spliceosome are not merely basal factors, as has long been assumed. Instead, these noncoding RNAs constitute a previously uncharacterized layer of regulation of alternative splicing, and contribute to the establishment of global splicing programs in both healthy and malignant cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Dvinge
- Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.,Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Jamie Guenthoer
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Peggy L Porter
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Robert K Bradley
- Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.,Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Guiro J, Murphy S. Regulation of expression of human RNA polymerase II-transcribed snRNA genes. Open Biol 2018; 7:rsob.170073. [PMID: 28615474 PMCID: PMC5493778 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to protein-coding genes, RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcribes numerous genes for non-coding RNAs, including the small-nuclear (sn)RNA genes. snRNAs are an important class of non-coding RNAs, several of which are involved in pre-mRNA splicing. The molecular mechanisms underlying expression of human pol II-transcribed snRNA genes are less well characterized than for protein-coding genes and there are important differences in expression of these two gene types. Here, we review the DNA features and proteins required for efficient transcription of snRNA genes and co-transcriptional 3′ end formation of the transcripts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joana Guiro
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shona Murphy
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dvinge H. Regulation of alternative
mRNA
splicing: old players and new perspectives. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:2987-3006. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Dvinge
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry School of Medicine and Public Health University of Wisconsin‐Madison WI USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
Much evidence is now accumulating that, in addition to their general role in splicing, the components of the core splicing machinery have extensive regulatory potential. In particular, recent evidence has demonstrated that de-regulation of these factors cause the highest extent of alternative splicing changes compared to de-regulation of the classical splicing regulators. This lack of a general inhibition of splicing resonates the differential splicing effects observed in different disease pathologies associated with specific mutations targeting core spliceosomal components. In this review we will summarize what is currently known regarding the involvement of core spliceosomal U-snRNP complexes in perturbed tissue development and human diseases and argue for the existence of a compensatory mechanism enabling cells to cope with drastic perturbations in core splicing components. This system maintains the correct balance of spliceosomal snRNPs through differential expression of variant (v)U-snRNPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Vazquez-Arango
- a Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Level 3 , Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital , Oxford , England
| | - Dawn O'Reilly
- b Sir William Dunn School of pathology , University of Oxford , South Parks Road, Oxford , England
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Pre-mRNA splicing is a critical step in eukaryotic gene expression that contributes to proteomic, cellular, and developmental complexity. Small nuclear (sn)RNAs are core spliceosomal components; however, the extent to which differential expression of snRNA isoforms regulates splicing is completely unknown. This is partly due to difficulties in the accurate analysis of the spatial and temporal expression patterns of snRNAs. Here, we use high-throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data to profile expression of four major snRNAs throughout Drosophila development. This analysis shows that individual isoforms of each snRNA have distinct expression patterns in the embryo, larva, and pharate adult stages. Expression of these isoforms is more heterogeneous during embryogenesis; as development progresses, a single isoform from each snRNA subtype gradually dominates expression. Despite the lack of stable snRNA orthologous groups during evolution, this developmental switching of snRNA isoforms also occurs in distantly related vertebrate species, such as Xenopus, mouse, and human. Our results indicate that expression of snRNA isoforms is regulated and lays the foundation for functional studies of individual snRNA isoforms.
Collapse
|
10
|
Global analysis of parental imprinting in human parthenogenetic induced pluripotent stem cells. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2011; 18:735-41. [DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2010] [Accepted: 02/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
11
|
Marz M, Kirsten T, Stadler PF. Evolution of spliceosomal snRNA genes in metazoan animals. J Mol Evol 2009; 67:594-607. [PMID: 19030770 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-008-9149-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2008] [Accepted: 07/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
While studies of the evolutionary histories of protein families are commonplace, little is known on noncoding RNAs beyond microRNAs and some snoRNAs. Here we investigate in detail the evolutionary history of the nine spliceosomal snRNA families (U1, U2, U4, U5, U6, U11, U12, U4atac, and U6atac) across the completely or partially sequenced genomes of metazoan animals. Representatives of the five major spliceosomal snRNAs were found in all genomes. None of the minor splicesomal snRNAs were detected in nematodes or in the shotgun traces of Oikopleura dioica, while in all other animal genomes at most one of them is missing. Although snRNAs are present in multiple copies in most genomes, distinguishable paralogue groups are not stable over long evolutionary times, although they appear independently in several clades. In general, animal snRNA secondary structures are highly conserved, albeit, in particular, U11 and U12 in insects exhibit dramatic variations. An analysis of genomic context of snRNAs reveals that they behave like mobile elements, exhibiting very little syntenic conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Marz
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kyriakopoulou C, Larsson P, Liu L, Schuster J, Söderbom F, Kirsebom LA, Virtanen A. U1-like snRNAs lacking complementarity to canonical 5' splice sites. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2006; 12:1603-11. [PMID: 16829670 PMCID: PMC1557696 DOI: 10.1261/rna.26506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We have detected a surprising heterogeneity among human spliceosomal U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA). Most interestingly, we have identified three U1 snRNA variants that lack complementarity to the canonical 5' splice site (5'SS) GU dinucleotide. Furthermore, we have observed heterogeneity among the identified variant U1 snRNA genes caused by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The identified snRNAs were ubiquitously expressed in a variety of human tissues representing different stages of development and displayed features of functional spliceosomal snRNAs, i.e., trimethylated cap structures, association with Sm proteins and presence in nuclear RNA-protein complexes. The unanticipated heterogeneity among spliceosomal snRNAs could contribute to the complexity of vertebrates by expanding the coding capacity of their genomes.
Collapse
|
13
|
Chen L, Lullo DJ, Ma E, Celniker SE, Rio DC, Doudna JA. Identification and analysis of U5 snRNA variants in Drosophila. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2005; 11:1473-7. [PMID: 16199758 PMCID: PMC1370830 DOI: 10.1261/rna.2141505] [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] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Distinct isoforms of spliceosomal RNAs may be involved in regulating pre-messenger RNA splicing in eukaryotic cells. During a large-scale effort to identify small noncoding RNAs in Drosophila, we isolated a U5 snRNA-like molecule containing a 5' segment identical to that of the canonical (major) U5 snRNA but with a variant Sm binding site and a distinct 3' hairpin sequence. Based on this finding, another six similar U5 snRNA-like sequences were identified within the Drosophila genome by sequence similarity to the invariant loop in the 5' half of U5. Interestingly, although all of these variants are expressed in vivo, each shows a distinct temporal expression profile during Drosophila development, and one is expressed primarily in fly heads. The presence of these U5 snRNA variants within RNP particles suggests their role in splicing and implies a possible connection to regulation of developmental and tissue-specific gene expression.
Collapse
|
14
|
Luo HR, Moreau GA, Levin N, Moore MJ. The human Prp8 protein is a component of both U2- and U12-dependent spliceosomes. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 1999; 5:893-908. [PMID: 10411133 PMCID: PMC1369814 DOI: 10.1017/s1355838299990520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This study reports the cloning, sequencing, and development of antisera against the human U5 snRNP 220-kDa protein or hPrp8p. Prp8p is the most highly conserved large nuclear protein known to date, but it is not related to any other protein. Southern, Northern, and expressed sequence tag analyses indicate that hPrp8p is encoded by a single gene. Prp8p is a core component of U5 snRNP and the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP, and antibodies raised against it immunoprecipitate both the major, U2-dependent and minor, U12-dependent spliceosomes. These spliceosomes, which excise different classes of introns, contain distinct sets of snRNAs overlapping only with U5 snRNA. Other than the core Sm proteins, hPrp8p is the first splicing factor shown to be common to both spliceosomes.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Southern
- Blotting, Western
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Carrier Proteins/immunology
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Chromosome Mapping
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17
- DNA, Complementary
- Humans
- Immune Sera
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Precipitin Tests
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA-Binding Proteins
- Ribonucleoprotein, U2 Small Nuclear/metabolism
- Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Spliceosomes/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H R Luo
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9110, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Eugen-Olsen J, Hagemeister JJ, Hellung-Larsen P. Expression of Tetrahymena snRNA gene variants including a U1 gene with mutations in the 5' splice site recognition sequence. Gene 1997; 189:221-5. [PMID: 9168131 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(96)00852-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The expression of U1, U2 and U5 snRNA gene variants has been studied under different physiological states of Tetrahymena. Variants of all three snRNA genes are expressed. Among the snRNAs detected is U1-3, a variant with 66 mutations compared to the normal U1 snRNA. Three of these mutations affect the 5' splice site recognition sequence. The U1-3 snRNA is present in a few hundred copies per cell. The expression of Tetrahymena snRNA genes is independent of the physiological state of the cell.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Eugen-Olsen
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Morales J, Borrero M, Sumerel J, Santiago C. Identification of developmentally regulated sea urchin U5 snRNA genes. DNA SEQUENCE : THE JOURNAL OF DNA SEQUENCING AND MAPPING 1997; 7:243-59. [PMID: 9255516 DOI: 10.3109/10425179709034044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
A PCR approach was used to isolate repeated U5 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes from the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus. A 1.3 kb repeat, LvU5.0, and three other variants, LvU5.1-U5.3, that differ in the coding region and in the proximal sequence element (PSE) region were isolated. Southern Blot analysis indicate that the U5 snRNA genes, unlike other embryonically expressed snRNA genes (U1, U2 and U6), are not found in a simple tandem repeat, but instead, exist in several heterogeneous clusters each with a small number of genes. The U5 PSE has limited sequence similarity with the other sea urchin PSEs. However, when used in a mobility shift assay the U5 PSE forms a protein/DNA complex that is very similar to the complex formed with the U6 PSE. An RNase protection assay used to monitor the accumulation of U5 snRNA during development shows that at least two U5 variants are coordinately expressed during embryogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Morales
- University of Puerto Rico, Department of Biology, San Juan 00931-3360
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lücke S, Xu GL, Palfi Z, Cross M, Bellofatto V, Bindereif A. Spliced leader RNA of trypanosomes: in vivo mutational analysis reveals extensive and distinct requirements for trans splicing and cap4 formation. EMBO J 1996; 15:4380-91. [PMID: 8861965 PMCID: PMC452162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In trypanosomes mRNAs are generated through trans splicing. The spliced leader (SL) RNA, which donates the 5'-terminal mini-exon to each of the protein coding exons, plays a central role in the trans splicing process. We have established in vivo assays to study in detail trans splicing, cap4 modification, and RNP assembly of the SL RNA in the trypanosomatid species Leptomonas seymouri. First, we found that extensive sequences within the mini-exon are required for SL RNA function in vivo, although a conserved length of 39 nt is not essential. In contrast, the intron sequence appears to be surprisingly tolerant to mutation; only the stem-loop II structure is indispensable. The asymmetry of the sequence requirements in the stem I region suggests that this domain may exist in different functional conformations. Second, distinct mini-exon sequences outside the modification site are important for efficient cap4 formation. Third, all SL RNA mutations tested allowed core RNP assembly, suggesting flexible requirements for core protein binding. In sum, the results of our mutational analysis provide evidence for a discrete domain structure of the SL RNA and help to explain the strong phylogenetic conservation of the mini-exon sequence and of the overall SL RNA secondary structure; they also suggest that there may be certain differences between trans splicing in nematodes and trypanosomes. This approach provides a basis for studying RNA-RNA interactions in the trans spliceosome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Lücke
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Otto-Warburg-Laboratorium, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Tarn WY, Steitz JA. A novel spliceosome containing U11, U12, and U5 snRNPs excises a minor class (AT-AC) intron in vitro. Cell 1996; 84:801-11. [PMID: 8625417 DOI: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81057-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A minor class of introns with noncanonical splice (AT-AC) and branch site sequences exists in metazoan protein coding genes. We have established a HeLa cell in vitro system that accurately splices a pre-mRNA substrate containing such an intron from the human P120 gene. Splicing occurs via a lariat intermediate whose branch site A residue is predicted to bulge from a duplex formed with the low abundance U12 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP), which we confirm by psoralen cross-linking. Native gel electrophoresis reveals that U11, U12, and U5 snRNPs assemble onto the P120 pre-mRNA to form splicing complexes. Inhibition of P120 splicing by 2'-O-methyl oligonucleotides complementary to U12 or U5 demonstrates that U12 and U5 snRNPs perform essential roles in the AT-AC spliceosome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W Y Tarn
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06536, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ares M, Weiser B. Rearrangement of snRNA structure during assembly and function of the spliceosome. PROGRESS IN NUCLEIC ACID RESEARCH AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 1995; 50:131-59. [PMID: 7754032 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6603(08)60813-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M Ares
- Biology Department, Sinsheimer Laboratories, University of California, Santa Cruz 95064, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|