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Scott HM, Smith MH, Coleman AK, Armijo KS, Chapman MJ, Apostalo SL, Wagner AR, Watson RO, Patrick KL. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 promotes the type I interferon response by activating Irf7 transcription. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113816. [PMID: 38393946 PMCID: PMC11056844 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tight regulation of macrophage immune gene expression is required to fight infection without risking harmful inflammation. The contribution of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to shaping the macrophage response to pathogens remains poorly understood. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that a member of the serine/arginine-rich (SR) family of mRNA processing factors, SRSF7, is required for optimal expression of a cohort of interferon-stimulated genes in macrophages. Using genetic and biochemical assays, we discover that in addition to its canonical role in regulating alternative splicing, SRSF7 drives transcription of interferon regulatory transcription factor 7 (IRF7) to promote antiviral immunity. At the Irf7 promoter, SRSF7 maximizes STAT1 transcription factor binding and RNA polymerase II elongation via cooperation with the H4K20me1 histone methyltransferase KMT5a (SET8). These studies define a role for an SR protein in activating transcription and reveal an RBP-chromatin network that orchestrates macrophage antiviral gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley M Scott
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Mackenzie H Smith
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Aja K Coleman
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Kaitlyn S Armijo
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Morgan J Chapman
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Summer L Apostalo
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Allison R Wagner
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Robert O Watson
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - Kristin L Patrick
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, College of Medicine, Bryan, TX 77807, USA.
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Scott HM, Smith MH, Coleman AK, Apostalo SL, Wagner AR, Watson RO, Patrick KL. Serine arginine-rich splicing factor (SRSF7) cooperates with the histone methyltransferase KMT5a to promote the type I interferon response via transcriptional activation of IRF7. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.09.540055. [PMID: 37503164 PMCID: PMC10369877 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.09.540055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Tight regulation of macrophage immune gene expression is required to fight infection without risking harmful inflammation. The contribution of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) to shaping the macrophage response to pathogens remains poorly understood. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that a member of the serine/arginine-rich (SR) family of mRNA processing factors, SRSF7, is required for optimal expression of a cohort of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in macrophages. Using genetic and biochemical assays, we discovered that in addition to its canonical role in regulating alternative splicing, SRSF7 drives transcription of interferon regulatory transcription factor 7 (IRF7) to promote antiviral immunity. At the Irf7 promoter, SRSF7 maximizes STAT1 transcription factor binding and RNA polymerase II elongation via cooperation with the H4K20me1 histone methyltransferase KMT5a (SET8). These studies define an unorthodox role for an SR protein in activating transcription and reveal an unappreciated RNA binding protein-chromatin network that orchestrates macrophage antiviral gene expression.
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