A Laing distal myopathy-associated proline substitution in the β-myosin rod perturbs myosin cross-bridging activity

Proline substitutions within the coiled-coil rod region of the β-myosin gene (MYH7) are the predominant mutations causing Laing distal myopathy (MPD1), an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by progressive weakness of distal/proximal muscles. We report that the MDP1 mutation R1500P, studied in what we believe to be the first mouse model for the disease, adversely affected myosin motor activity despite being in the structural rod domain that directs thick filament assembly. Contractility experiments carried out on isolated mutant muscles, myofibrils, and myofibers identified muscle fatigue and weakness phenotypes, an increased rate of actin-myosin detachment, and a conformational shift of the myosin heads toward the more reactive disordered relaxed (DRX) state, causing hypercontractility and greater ATP consumption. Similarly, molecular analysis of muscle biopsies from patients with MPD1 revealed a significant increase in sarcomeric DRX content, as observed in a subset of myosin motor domain mutations causing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Finally, oral administration of MYK-581, a small molecule that decreases the population of heads in the DRX configuration, significantly improved the limited running capacity of the R1500P-transgenic mice and corrected the increased DRX state of the myofibrils from patients. These studies provide evidence of the molecular pathogenesis of proline rod mutations and lay the groundwork for the therapeutic advancement of myosin modulators.

Nonproductive Splicing Prevents Expression of MYH7b Protein in the Mammalian Heart

Background

Although the roles of alpha‐myosin heavy chain (α‐MyHC) and beta‐myosin heavy chain (β‐MyHC) proteins in cardiac contractility have long been appreciated, the biological contribution of another closely related sarcomeric myosin family member, MYH7b (myosin heavy chain 7b), has become a matter of debate. In mammals, MYH7b mRNA is transcribed but undergoes non‐productive alternative splicing that prevents protein expression in a tissue‐specific manner, including in the heart. However, several studies have recently linked MYH7b variants to different cardiomyopathies or have reported MYH7b protein expression in mammalian hearts.

Methods and Results

By analyzing mammalian cardiac transcriptome and proteome data, we show that the vast majority of MYH7b RNA is subject to exon skipping and cannot be translated into a functional myosin molecule. Notably, we discovered a lag in the removal of introns flanking the alternatively spliced exon, which could retain the non‐coding RNA in the nucleus. This process could play a significant role in controlling MYH7b expression as well as the activity of other cardiac genes. Consistent with the negligible level of full‐length protein coding mRNA, no MYH7b protein expression was detected in adult mouse, rat, and human hearts by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, proteome surveys including quantitative mass spectrometry analyses revealed only traces of cardiac MYH7b protein and even then, only in a subset of individual samples.

Conclusions

The comprehensive analysis presented here suggests that previous studies showing cardiac MYH7b protein expression were likely attributable to antibody cross‐reactivity. More importantly, our data predict that the MYH7b disease‐associated variants may operate through the alternately spliced RNA itself.

miR-1/206 downregulates splicing factor Srsf9 to promote C2C12 differentiation

Background

Myogenesis is driven by specific changes in the transcriptome that occur during the different stages of muscle differentiation. In addition to controlled transcriptional transitions, several other post-transcriptional mechanisms direct muscle differentiation. Both alternative splicing and miRNA activity regulate gene expression and production of specialized protein isoforms. Importantly, disruption of either process often results in severe phenotypes as reported for several muscle diseases. Thus, broadening our understanding of the post-transcriptional pathways that operate in muscles will lay the foundation for future therapeutic interventions.

Methods

We employed bioinformatics analysis in concert with the well-established C2C12 cell system for predicting and validating novel miR-1 and miR-206 targets engaged in muscle differentiation. We used reporter gene assays to test direct miRNA targeting and studied C2C12 cells stably expressing one of the cDNA candidates fused to a heterologous, miRNA-resistant 3′ UTR. We monitored effects on differentiation by measuring fusion index, myotube area, and myogenic gene expression during time course differentiation experiments.

Results

Gene ontology analysis revealed a strongly enriched set of putative miR-1 and miR-206 targets associated with RNA metabolism. Notably, the expression levels of several candidates decreased during C2C12 differentiation. We discovered that the splicing factor Srsf9 is a direct target of both miRNAs during myogenesis. Persistent Srsf9 expression during differentiation impaired myotube formation and blunted induction of the early pro-differentiation factor myogenin as well as the late differentiation marker sarcomeric myosin, Myh8.

Conclusions

Our data uncover novel miR-1 and miR-206 cellular targets and establish a functional link between the splicing factor Srsf9 and myoblast differentiation. The finding that miRNA-mediated clearance of Srsf9 is a key myogenic event illustrates the coordinated and sophisticated interplay between the diverse components of the gene regulatory network.

Expression of Normally Repressed Myosin Heavy Chain 7b in the Mammalian Heart Induces Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Background In mammals, muscle contraction is controlled by a family of 10 sarcomeric myosin motors. The expression of one of its members, MYH7b, is regulated by alternative splicing, and while the protein is restricted to specialized muscles such as extraocular muscles or muscle spindles, RNA that cannot encode protein is expressed in most skeletal muscles and in the heart. Remarkably, birds and snakes express MYH7b protein in both heart and skeletal muscles. This observation suggests that in the mammalian heart, the motor activity of MYH7b may only be needed during development since its expression is prevented in adult tissue, possibly because it could promote disease by unbalancing myocardial contractility. Methods and Results We have analyzed MYH7b null mice to determine the potential role of MYH7b during cardiac development and also generated transgenic mice with cardiac myocyte expression of MYH7b protein to measure its impact on cardiomyocyte function and contractility. We found that MYH7b null mice are born at expected Mendelian ratios and do not have a baseline cardiac phenotype as adults. In contrast, transgenic cardiac MYH7b protein expression induced early cardiac dilation in males with significantly increased left ventricular mass in both sexes. Cardiac dilation is progressive, leading to early cardiac dysfunction in males, but later dysfunction in females. Conclusions The data presented show that the expression of MYH7b protein in the mammalian heart has been inhibited during the evolution of mammals most likely to prevent the development of a severe cardiomyopathy that is sexually dimorphic.

Two novel MYH7 proline substitutions cause Laing Distal Myopathy-like phenotypes with variable expressivity and neck extensor contracture

Background

Human skeletal muscles express three major myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms: MyHCIIx (MYH1) in fast type 2B muscle fibers, MyHCIIa (MYH2) in fast type 2A fibers and MyHCI/β-cardiac MyHC (MYH7) in slow type I skeletal fibers and cardiac ventricles. In line with its expression pattern, MYH7 mutations have been reported in association with hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathies or a combination of both. We analyzed the clinical and molecular phenotype of two unrelated families of Jewish Moroccan ancestry that presented with apparently autosomal dominant inheritance of progressive Laing-like distal myopathy with non-specific myopathic changes, but uncommon marked contractures and wasting of the neck extensors.

Methods

Clinical phenotyping, whole exome sequencing and restriction analysis, generation of mutants followed by cell culture transfection and imaging.

Results

Using whole exome sequencing we identified in both families two novel heterozygous proline substitutions located in exon 31 of MYH7 within its rod domain: c.4309G>C (p.Ala1437Pro) and c.4301G>C (p.Arg1434Pro). Here we show that the phenotype caused by these mutations includes marked cervical muscle contracture, and report that the severity of the phenotype varies significantly, to the extent of non-penetrance in one of the families. Finally, we provide evidence that both proline substitutions impair myosin self-assembly in non-muscle cells transfected with β-myosin constructs carrying the mutations, but do not prevent incorporation of the mutant molecules into the sarcomere.

Conclusions

This study expands our clinical and molecular knowledge of MYH7 rod mutations causing skeletal myopathies, and underscores the importance of discussing disease penetrance during genetic counseling.

Myosin filament assembly requires a cluster of four positive residues located in the rod domain

Myosin has an intrinsic ability to organize into ordered thick filaments that mediate muscle contraction. Here, we use surface plasmon resonance and light scattering analysis to further characterize the molecular determinants that guide myosin filament assembly. Both assays identify a cluster of lysine and arginine residues as important for myosin polymerization in vitro. Moreover, in cardiomyocytes, replacement of these charged residues by alanine severely affects the incorporation of myosin into the distal ends of the sarcomere. Our findings show that a novel assembly element with a distinct charge profile is present at the C-terminus of sarcomeric myosins.

Effects of pathogenic proline mutations on myosin assembly

Laing distal myopathy (MPD1) is a genetically dominant myopathy characterized by early and selective weakness of the distal muscles. Mutations in the MYH7 gene encoding for the β-myosin heavy chain are the underlying genetic cause of MPD1. However, their pathogenic mechanisms are currently unknown. Here, we measure the biological effects of the R1500P and L1706P MPD1 mutations in different cellular systems. We show that, while the two mutations inhibit myosin self-assembly in non-muscle cells, they do not prevent incorporation of the mutant myosin into sarcomeres. Nevertheless, we find that the L1706P mutation affects proper antiparallel myosin association by accumulating in the bare zone of the sarcomere. Furthermore, bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay shows that the α-helix containing the R1500P mutation folds into homodimeric (mutant/mutant) and heterodimeric [mutant/wild type (WT)] myosin molecules that are competent for sarcomere incorporation. Both mutations also form aggregates consisting of cytoplasmic vacuoles surrounding paracrystalline arrays and amorphous rod-like inclusions that sequester WT myosin. Myosin aggregates were also detected in transgenic nematodes expressing the R1500P mutation. By showing that the two MPD1 mutations can have dominant effects on distinct components of the contractile apparatus, our data provide the first insights into the pathogenesis of the disease.

Bioinformatics assessment of beta-myosin mutations reveals myosin's high sensitivity to mutations

More than 200 mutations in the beta-myosin gene (MYH7) that cause clinically distinct cardiac and/or skeletal myopathies have been reported, but to date, no comprehensive statistical analysis of these mutations has been performed. As a part of this review, we developed a new interactive database and research tool called MyoMAPR (Myopathic Mutation Analysis Profiler and Repository). We report that the distribution of mutations along the beta-myosin gene is not homogeneous, and that myosin is a highly constrained molecule with an uncommon sensitivity to amino acid substitutions. Increasing knowledge of the characteristics of MH7 mutations may provide a valuable resource for scientists and clinicians studying diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of disease associated with these mutations.

Interplay between exonic splicing enhancers, mRNA processing, and mRNA surveillance in the dystrophic Mdx mouse

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.

Cardiomyocyte preparation, culture, and gene transfer

Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) cultured in vitro have been used as a model system for easily recreating and studying several cardiac molecular conditions, such as hypertrophy, oxygen deprivation, and gene expression. However, low efficiency of gene transfer has often represented one of the major limitations of this technique. In this chapter we describe in detail how to isolate NRVMs from neonatal rat heart and the optimal conditions for their long-term culture. Different cardiomyocyte transfection methodologies, based on viral or viral/chemical delivery carriers, are also discussed.

Cardiomyocyte preparation, culture, and gene transfer

Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) cultured in vitro have been used as a model system for easily recreating and studying several cardiac molecular conditions, such as hypertrophy, oxygen deprivation, and gene expression. However, low efficiency of gene transfer has often represented one of the major limitations of this technique. In this chapter we describe in detail how to isolate NRVMs from neonatal rat heart and the optimal conditions for their long-term culture. Different cardiomyocyte transfection methodologies, based on viral or viral/chemical delivery carriers, are also discussed.

Potential limitations of transcription terminators used as transgene insulators in adenoviral vectors

The presence of adenoviral cis-elements interfering with the activity of tissue-specific promoters has seriously impaired the use of transcriptional targeting adenoviruses for gene therapy purposes. As an approach to overcome this limitation, transcription terminators were previously employed in cultured cells to insulate a transgene promoter from viral activation. To extend these studies in vivo, we have injected into heart and skeletal muscle, adenoviruses containing the human growth hormone terminator and the cardiac-specific alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter (alphaMyHC) driving the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. Promoterless CAT constructs were also tested to study interfering viral transcription and terminator activity. Here we demonstrate that the presence of a terminator can produce undesirable effects on the activity of heterologous promoters. Our analysis shows that in particular conditions, a terminator can reduce the tissue specificity of the transgene promoter. By RNAse protection assay performed on cardiac myocytes, we also show that adenoviral elements can direct high levels of autonomous transcription within the E1A enhancer region. This finding supports the model that passive readthrough of the transgene promoter is responsible for loss of selective expression.

Enhanced detection of tRNA isoacceptors by combinatorial oligonucleotide hybridization

A method that greatly enhances the detection of tRNA by oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe hybridization has been developed. Because highly structured tRNA regions often preclude heteroduplex formation, we have tested the ability of cold oligodeoxyribonucleotides called unfolders to disrupt the tRNA secondary/tertiary structures and promote hybridization of a second labeled oligonucleotide complementary to the anticodon loop. Here we show that an excess of unfolders in the pre/hybridization reaction can enhance a barely detectable hybridization signal by more than 200-fold without affecting probe specificity. This sensitive assay makes it possible to easily study and monitor changes in tRNA isoacceptor expression.

Suppression of nonsense mutations in cell culture and mice by multimerized suppressor tRNA genes

We demonstrate here the first experimental suppression of a premature termination codon in vivo by using an ochre suppressor tRNA acting in an intact mouse. Multicopy tRNA expression plasmids were directly injected into skeletal muscle and into the hearts of transgenic mice carrying a reporter gene with an ochre mutation. A strategy for modulation of suppressor efficiency, applicable to diverse systems and based on tandem multimerization of the tRNA gene, is developed. The product of suppression (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) accumulates linearly with increases in suppressor tRNA concentration to the point where the ochre-suppressing tRNA(Ser) is in four- to fivefold excess over the endogenous tRNA(Ser). The subsequent suppressor activity plateau seems to be attributable to accumulation of unmodified tRNAs. These results define many salient variables for suppression in vivo, for example, for tRNA suppression employed as gene therapy for nonsense defects.

Ochre suppressor transfer RNA restored dystrophin expression in mdx mice

The mdx mouse is an animal model for human Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The lack of dystrophin in mdx mice is caused by an ochre mutation in exon 23 of the dystrophin gene. This study tested the feasibility of inhibiting translational termination as an approach for genetic therapy for diseases caused by nonsense mutations. We evaluated both the in vitro and in vivo efficiencies of readthrough of ochre codons in 2 genes with the tRNA suppressor gene. The first target was a CAT reporter gene bearing an ochre mutation at the 5' end (CATochre). The second target was the dystrophin gene in mdx mice. The readthrough efficiencies were about 20% in COS cells and 5.5% in rat hearts. At four weeks after a direct injection of plasmid DNA encoding the tRNA suppressor into mdx mice, dystrophin positive fibers were detected by sarcolemmal immunostaining. This is the first convincing data that a tRNA suppressor gene might be a useful in vivo treatment for the genetic disorders caused by nonsense mutations.

Enhancer elements activate the weak 3' splice site of alpha-tropomyosin exon 2

We have identified four purine-rich sequences that act as splicing enhancer elements to activate the weak 3' splice site of alpha-tropomyosin exon 2. These elements also activate the splicing of heterologous substrates containing weak 3' splice sites or mutated 5' splice sites. However, they are unique in that they can activate splicing whether they are placed in an upstream or downstream exon, and the two central elements can function regardless of their position relative to one another. The presence of excess RNAs containing these enhancers could effectively inhibit in vitro pre-mRNA splicing reactions in a substrate-dependent manner and, at lower concentrations of competitor RNA, the addition of SR proteins could relieve the inhibition. However, when extracts were depleted by incubation with biotinylated exon 2 RNAs followed by passage over streptavidin agarose, SR proteins were not sufficient to restore splicing. Instead, both SR proteins and fractions containing a 110-kD protein were necessary to rescue splicing. Using gel mobility shift assays, we show that formation of stable enhancer-specific complexes on alpha-tropomyosin exon 2 requires the presence of both SR proteins and the 110-kD protein. By analogy to the doublesex exon enhancer elements in Drosophila, our results suggest that assembly of mammalian exon enhancer complexes requires both SR and non-SR proteins to activate selection of weak splice sites.

Functional crosstalk between exon enhancers, polypyrimidine tracts and branchpoint sequences

We recently identified enhancer elements that activate the weak 3' splice site of alpha-tropomyosin exon 2 as well as a variety of heterologous weak 3' splice sites. To understand their mechanism of action, we devised an iterative selection strategy to identify functional pyrimidine tracts and branchpoint sequences in the presence or absence of enhancer elements. Surprisingly, we found that strong pyrimidine tracts were selected regardless of the presence of enhancer elements. However, the presence of enhancer elements resulted in the selection of multiple, non-consensus branchpoint sequences. Thus, enhancer elements apparently activate weak 3' splice sites primarily by increasing the efficiency of splicing of introns containing branchpoint sequences with less than optimal U2-branchpoint pairing arrangements. Comparison of consensus sequences from both our selection strategy and compilations of published intron sequences suggests that exon enhancer elements could be widespread and play an important role in the selection of 3' splice sites.

Specific protein-protein interactions between the essential mammalian spliceosome-associated proteins SAP 61 and SAP 114

Spliceosome-associated proteins (SAPs) 61, 62, and 114 can be UV-crosslinked to pre-mRNA in purified spliceosomal complexes and are associated with U2 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNP). These proteins also compose the essential heterotrimeric splicing factor SF3a, and products of yeast pre-mRNA processing genes PRP9, PRP11, and PRP21 are their likely yeast counterparts. We report the isolation of a cDNA encoding SAP 61 and find that it is 30% identical in amino acid sequence to PRP9. A C-terminal Cys2His2 zinc-finger-like motif, which could be involved in the pre-mRNA binding, is the most highly conserved region of the protein. We also demonstrate specific protein-protein interactions between SAPs 61 and 114 and show that the N terminus of SAP 61 is required for this interaction. Significantly, the corresponding proteins are also known to interact in yeast: PRP9 interacts with PRP21, and the N-terminal portion of PRP9 is required. Previous work showed that direct interactions also occur between SAPs 62 and 114 and between the corresponding PRPs 11 and 21. These observations indicate that the specific protein-protein interactions that occur between the three prespliceosomal factors have been conserved between yeast and mammals.

Human hnRNP protein A1 gene expression. Structural and functional characterization of the promoter

hnRNP protein A1 (34 kDa, pl 9.5) is a prominent member of the family of proteins (hnRNP proteins) that associate with the nascent transcripts of RNA polymerase II and that accompany the hnRNA through the maturation process and the export to the cytoplasm. New evidence suggests an active and specific role for some of these proteins, including protein A1, in splicing and transport. Contrary to the other hnRNP proteins, the intracellular level of protein A1 was reported to change as a function of proliferation state and cell type. In this work we analyse the A1 gene expression in different cells under different growth and differentiation conditions. Proliferation dependent expression was observed in lymphocytes and fibroblasts while purified neurons express high A1 mRNA levels both in the proliferative (before birth) and in the quiescent (after birth) state. Transformed cell lines exhibit very high (proliferation independent) A1 mRNA levels compared to differentiated tissues. A structural and functional characterization of the A1 gene promoter was carried out by means of DNase I footprinting and CAT assays. The observed promoter features can account for both elevated and regulated mRNA transcription. At least 12 control elements are contained in the 734 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start site. Assays with the deleted and/or mutated promoter indicate a co-operation of multiple transcriptional elements, distributed over the entire promoter, in determining the overall activity and the response to proliferative stimuli (serum).

Phosphorylation of human hnRNP protein A1 abrogates in vitro strand annealing activity

In HeLa cells metabolically labeled in vivo with [32P] orthophosphate in the presence of okadaic acid the concentration of phosphorylated A1 protein was increased significantly as compared to controls. Purified recombinant hnRNP protein A1 served as an excellent substrate in vitro for the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and for casein kinase II (CKII). Thin layer electrophoresis of A1 acid hydrolysates showed the protein to be phosphorylated exclusively on serine residue by both kinases. V8 phosphopeptide maps revealed that the target site(s) of in vitro phosphorylation are located in the C-terminal region of A1. Phosphoamino acid sequence analysis and site directed mutagenesis identified Ser 199 as the sole phosphoamino acid in the protein phosphorylated by PKA. Phosphorylation introduced by PKA resulted in the suppression of the ability of protein A1 to promote strand annealing in vitro, without any detectable effect on its nucleic acid binding capacity. This finding indicates that phosphorylation of a single serine residue in the C-terminal domain may significantly alter the properties of protein A1.

Interaction of hnRNP A1 with snRNPs and pre-mRNAs: evidence for a possible role of A1 RNA annealing activity in the first steps of spliceosome assembly

The in vitro interaction of recombinant hnRNP A1 with purified snRNPs and with pre-mRNAs was investigated. We show that protein A1 can stably bind U2 and U4 snRNP but not U1. Oligo-RNAse H cleavage of U2 nucleotides involved in base pairing with the branch site, totally eliminates the A1-U2 interaction. RNase T1 protection and immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that recombinant protein A1 specifically binds the 3'-end regions of both beta-globin and Ad-2 introns. However, while on the beta-globin intron only binding to the polypyrimidine tract was observed, on the Ad-2 intron a 32 nt fragment encompassing the branch point and the AG splice-site dinucleotide was bound and protected. Such protection was drastically reduced in the presence of U2 snRNP. Altogether these results indicate that protein A1 can establish a different pattern of association with different pre-mRNAs and support the hypothesis that this protein could play a role in the annealing of U2 to the branch site and hence in the early events of pre-splicing complex assembly.

Recombinant hnRNP protein A1 and its N-terminal domain show preferential affinity for oligodeoxynucleotides homologous to intron/exon acceptor sites

The reported binding preference of human hnRNP protein A1 for the 3'-splice site of some introns (Swanson and Dreyfuss (1988) EMBO J. 7, 3519-3529; Mayrand and Pederson (1990) Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 3307-3318) was tested by assaying in vitro the binding of purified recombinant A1 protein (expressed in bacteria) to synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (21-mers) of suitable sequence. In such a minimal system we find preferential binding of protein A1 to oligodeoxynucleotide sequences corresponding to the 3'-splice site of IVS1 of human beta-globin pre-mRNA and of IVS1 of Adenovirus type 2 major late transcript. Mutation studies demonstrate that the binding specificity is dependent on the known critical domains of this intron region, the AG splice site dinucleotide and polypyrimidine tract, and resides entirely in the short oligonucleotide sequence. Moreover specific binding does not require the presence of other hnRNP proteins or of snRNP particles. Studies with a truncated recombinant protein demonstrated that the minimal protein sequence determinants for A1 recognition of 3'-splice acceptor site reside entirely in the N-terminal 195 aa of the unmodified protein.

Alternative splicing in the human gene for the core protein A1 generates another hnRNP protein

The human hnRNP core protein A1 (34 kd) is encoded by a 4.6 kb gene split into 10 exons. Here we show that the A1 gene can be differentially spliced by the addition of an extra exon. The new transcript encodes a minor protein of the hnRNP complex, here defined A1B protein, with a calculated mol. wt of 38 kd, that coincides with a protein previously designated as B2 by some authors. In vitro translation of the mRNAs selected by hybridization with A1 cDNA produced two proteins of 34 and 38 kd; Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from HeLa cells revealed that the abundance of the A1B mRNA was approximately 5% that of A1. The A1B protein was detected by Western blotting with an anti-A1 monoclonal antibody both in enriched preparations of basic hnRNP proteins and in 40S hnRNP particles. The A1B protein exhibits a significantly higher affinity than A1 for ssDNA. The recombinant A1B protein, expressed in Escherichia coli, shows the same electrophoretic mobility and charge as the cellular one.

Isolation of an active gene encoding human hnRNP protein A1. Evidence for alternative splicing

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) core protein A1 is a major component of mammalian hnRNP 40 S particles. We describe the structure of an active A1 gene and report on the partial characterization of the A1 gene family. About 30 A1-specific sequences are present per haploid human genome: 15 such sequences were isolated from a human genomic DNA library. Many corresponded to pseudogenes of the processed type but by applying a selection for actively transcribed regions we isolated an active A1 gene. The gene spans a region of 4.6 x 10(3) base-pairs and it is split into ten exons that encode the 320 amino acid residues of the protein. The amino acid sequence derived from the exon sequences is identical with that deduced from cDNA and reported for the protein. One intron exactly separates the two structural domains that constitute the protein. Each of the two RNA-binding domains in protein A1 is encoded by one exon. Experimental evidence indicates that the A1 gene can encode for more than one protein by alternative splicing. The gene is preceded by a strong promoter that contains at least two CCAAT boxes and two possible Sp1 binding sites, but it lacks a TATA box.

cDNA cloning of human hnRNP protein A1 reveals the existence of multiple mRNA isoforms

Protein A1 is one of the major component of mammalian ribonucleoprotein particles (hnRNP). Human protein A1 cDNA cloning and sequencing revealed the existence of at least two protein isoforms. Among the cDNAs examined, sequence differences were found both in the structural portion, leading to aminoacid changes (Tyr to Phe or Arg to Lys) and in the non translated 3'-region where two T-stretches of different length were observed. Interestingly one of the aminoacid substitutions falls into a consensus sequence common to many RNA binding proteins. Northern blot analysis of poly A+ RNAs from five human tissues revealed two mRNA forms of 1500 and 1900 n due to alternative polyadenylation. Analysis of genomic DNA showed at least 30 A1-specific sequences, some of which correspond to processed pseudogenes. These results suggest that protein A1 is encoded by a multigene family.

Hybridization of oligodeoxynucleotide probes to RNA molecules: specificity and stability of duplexes

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Heterologous expression in Bacillus subtilis. II. In vitro removal of the attenuator sequence of the Escherichia coli his operon allows expression of the cloned hisG gene in B. subtilis

The promoter-proximal region of the Escherichia coli histidine (his) operon, including the promoter, the attenuator and the hisG gene, as well as the first of the nine structural genes of the his operon, have been cloned in Bacillus subtilis. In this host, the hisG gene could not be expressed because its transcription appeared to be irreversibly terminated at the attenuator (Ferretti et al., 1984). When the attenuator plus various lengths of the two bordering regions were removed, one of the attenuatorless sequences cloned in B. subtilis allowed the progression of transcription and complementation of the corresponding hisA mutation in this Gram-positive host. The deletion removed a 349-bp segment which contained the his attenuator and promoter. In B. subtilis, the productive transcription of the hisG gene started at a site in pAT153 and terminated in pC194. Sequence analysis of the deletion indicates that the E. coli ribosome-binding site of the his operon was used for the translation of the E. coli hisG gene mRNA in B. subtilis cells, which can thus grow in the absence of histidine.