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Drosophila melanogaster U1 and U2 small nuclear RNA genes contain common flanking sequences.

The flanking sequences of three U2 genes (or pseudogenes) and one U1 gene of Drosophila melanogaster have been determined. Comparison of the sequences reveals a remarkable homology between position -30 and -65 upstream from the structural genes, starting with a TATA box-like sequence. The 3' flanking regions are also conserved in all genes and contain a canonical A-A-T-A-A-A polyadenylation signal.

Animals↗

U4 small nuclear RNA pseudogenes from rat genome have common truncated 3'-ends.

Four U4 RNA pseudogenes were isolated and characterized from a rat genomic bank. The four pseudogenes contained sequences completely homologous to U4 RNA from nucleotides 1 to 67 and had common truncated 3'-ends. Three of the four pseudogenes were flanked by 14 to 18 nucleotide-long direct repeats. The structural features of these four U4 RNA pseudogenes are consistent with the hypothesis that these pseudogenes arose by RNA self-primed complementary DNA synthesis and integration into the genome (Van Arsdell et al., Cell 26:11-17, 1981).

Animals↗

A discrete 3' region of U6 small nuclear RNA modulates the phosphorylation cycle of the C1 heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle protein.

The C heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein particle (hnRNP) protein bind to nascent pre-mRNA and may participate in assembly of the early prespliceosome. Ser/Thr phosphorylation of the C1 hnRNP protein in HeLa nuclear extracts regulates its binding to pre-mRNA (S. H. Mayrand, P. Dwen, and T. Pederson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:7764-7768, 1993). We have now further investigated the phosphorylation cycle of the C1 hnRNP protein, with emphasis on its regulation. Pretreatment of nuclear extracts with micrococcal nuclease eliminated the phosphorylation of C1 hnRNP protein, but pretreatment with DNase did not, suggesting a dependence on RNA. Oligodeoxynucleotide-targeted RNase H cleavage of U1, U2, and U4 small nuclear RNAs did not affect the phosphorylation of C1 hnRNP protein. However, cleavage of nucleotides 78 to 95, but not other regions, of U6 small nuclear RNA resulted in an inhibition of the dephosphorylation step of the C1 hnRNP protein phosphorylation cycle. This inhibition was as pronounced as that seen with the serine/threonine protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. C1 hnRNP protein dephosphorylation could be completely restored by the addition of intact U6 RNA. Add-back experiments with mutant RNAs further delineated the minimal region essential for C1 protein dephosphorylation as residing in nucleotides 85 to 92 of U6 RNA. These results illuminate a hitherto unanticipated function of U6 RNA: the modulation of a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle of C1 hnRNP protein that influences the binding affinity of this protein for pre-mRNA. This newly revealed function of U6 RNA is likely to play a very early role in the prespliceosome assembly pathway, prior to U6 RNA's entry into the mature spliceosome's active center.

Base Sequence↗

Compensatory mutations suggest that base-pairing with a small nuclear RNA is required to form the 3' end of H3 messenger RNA.

Processing of the 3' end of sea urchin H3 histone pre-mRNA requires conserved sequence elements and the presence of U7 snRNA. A mutation in the conserved CAAGAAGA sequence of the H3 pre-mRNA that renders 3' processing of this precursor defective is shown to be suppressed by a compensatory change in the U7 snRNA, restoring the base-pairing potential of the two RNAs. RNA-RNA contacts between these two molecules appear to be an essential feature of the 3' processing reaction.

Animals↗

Variants of U1 small nuclear RNA assemble into spliceosomal complexes.

In this study, the existence of additional U1 snRNA variants in the posterior silk gland of the Bombyx mori Nistari strain from India was investigated. Three new U1 variants were detected. One of the new isoforms (U1 SG1) was found to be preferentially assembled into high molecular weight spliceosomal complexes in comparison with the total cellular lysate RNA control. Structural and nucleotide differences were examined in these new isoforms and compared with the previously reported U1 variants. Free energy (Delta G) values for the entire U1 snRNA secondary structures as well as the individual stem/loops (I, II, III and IV) domains of the isoforms were estimated to determine their structural stability.

Animals↗

A yeast small nuclear RNA is required for normal processing of pre-ribosomal RNA.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, seven snRNAs (snR3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 17) are retained in the nucleus under conditions in which nucleoplasmic RNAs are lost, and may be nucleolar. All of these snRNAs show properties consistent with hydrogen bonding to pre-ribosomal RNAs; snR5 and 8 with 20S pre-rRNA, snR3, 4, 10 and 17 with 35S pre-rRNA and snR9 with 20-35S RNA. Strains lacking snR10 are impaired in growth and specifically defective in the processing of 35S RNA. Processing is slowed, leading to 35S RNA accumulation and most cleavage occurs, not at the normal sites, but at sites which in wild-type strains are used for subsequent steps in rRNA maturation.

Molecular Weight↗

Identification and characterization of U1 small nuclear RNA genes from two crustacean isopod species.

Four different units containing three variants of the U1 snRNA gene have been identified in the genome of Asellus aquaticus and only one unit has been identified in the genome of Proasellus coxalis. All four identified U1 snRNA genes can be folded according to the proper secondary structure and possess the functionally useful conserved sequences. Moreover, in the 3 flanking regions, all genes present both the 3 box, a conserved sequence required for 3 processing of mature snRNA, and a polyadenylation signal which is unusual for these genes. The PCR products were used as probes in fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) experiments to locate them on chromosomes of A. aquaticus and P. coxalis.

Animals↗

Three types of rat U1 small nuclear RNA genes with different flanking sequences are induced to express in vivo.

There are about 50 copies of U1 RNA genes/pseudogenes in the rat genome. To date, we have isolated so far 25 phage clones carrying a U1 RNA gene/pseudogene from two rat genomic libraries. The 12 clones were selected by hybridization with the U1 RNA coding region under a stringent condition, and were mapped and sequenced. Here, we report three types of U1 RNA genes with different flanking sequences, all of which were shown to be induced to express in vivo by transfection with their polylinker-inserted maxi U1 RNA genes into cultured rat cells. Although these three classes of U1 RNA genes have few homologous flanking sequences, they provide both upstream and downstream of the genes two conserved blocks, which may possibly play an important role in U1 RNA expression.

Animals↗

The sequence of 55 kb on the left arm of yeast chromosome XVI identifies a small nuclear RNA, a new putative protein kinase and two new putative regulators.

We have sequenced and analysed a 55786 bp fragment located on the left arm of chromosome XVI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The sequence contains 29 non-overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) longer than 300 bp, among which 12 genes have previously been sequenced: OYE3, REV3, SVS1, BEM4, CDC60, KIP2, PEP4, SPK1, PAL1, KES1, SNR17B and RPL37A. Three new ORFs, P2591, P2594 and P2597 are highly homologous to the human phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activator PTPA, to the pleiotropic regulator PRL1 of PP1 and PP2a protein phosphatases in plants and to the protein kinase PAR-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans, respectively. Three other ORFs, P2545, P2567 and P2578 have significant homology with ORFs of unknown function located on yeast chromosomes VIII, XVI and IV respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human U1 small nuclear RNA pseudogenes do not map to the site of the U1 genes in 1p36 but are clustered in 1q12-q22.

Human U1 small nuclear RNA is encoded by approximately 30 gene copies. All of the U1 genes share several kilobases of essentially perfect flanking homology both upstream and downstream from the U1 coding region, but remarkably, for many U1 genes excellent flanking homology extends at least 24 kilobases upstream and 20 kilobases downstream. Class I U1 RNA pseudogenes are abundant in the human genome. These pseudogenes contain a complete but imperfect U1 coding region and possess extensive flanking homology to the true U1 genes. We mapped four class I pseudogenes by in situ hybridization to the long arm of chromosome 1, bands q12-q22, a region distinct from the site on the distal short arm of chromosome 1 to which the U1 genes have been previously mapped (Lund et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:2211-2220, 1983; Naylor et al., Somat. Cell Mol. Genet. 10:307-313, 1984). We confirmed our in situ hybridization results by genomic blotting experiments with somatic cell hybrid lines with translocation products of human chromosome 1. These experiments provide further evidence that class I U1 pseudogenes and the true U1 genes are not interspersed. The results, along with those published elsewhere (Bernstein et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:2159-2171, 1985), suggest that gene amplification may be responsible for the sequence homogeneity of the human U1 gene family.

Animals↗

Reverse-transcribed pseudogenes of U1 small nuclear RNA presumably amplified in the rat genome together with the flanking region.

We have examined 25 independent rat genomic clones each of which contains a U1 RNA gene or a pseudogene. We have found five clones whose restriction maps are identical with or overlapping one another. These clones contain sequences which are co-linear with that of U1 RNA except for one or two nucleotides (nt). They also contain 21-23-nt poly(A) stretches immediately after U1 RNA homology. In addition, the U1 RNA-poly(A) regions are surrounded by the same direct repeat sequences. Therefore, they seem to be pseudogenes which have been generated by the reverse transcription of poly(A)-tailed U1 RNA followed by the insertion of the transcript into the genome. Furthermore, conservation of the sequences extends over at least 18 kb of the flanking sequences. This suggests a family of conserved reverse-transcribed pseudogenes, which implies amplification of an original pseudogene. It is also suggested that the target sequence without insertion of a U1 RNA sequence has been amplified. The mechanisms for the amplification and sequence conservation are discussed.

Animals↗

Induction of fragility at the human RNU2 locus by cytosine arabinoside is dependent upon a transcriptionally competent U2 small nuclear RNA gene and the expression of p53.

Chromosomal fragile sites are regions that are intrinsically unstable and are susceptible to experimentally induced damage. In most cases, the target and mechanism of induction of fragility are unknown. Using ectopic integration of engineered DNA arrays to create "new" fragile sites, we and others have previously shown that the transcriptionally competent U2 gene is necessary and sufficient for induction of fragility at the RNU2 locus upon infection of human cells with Adenovirus 12. In the present study we have investigated the response of the RNU2 locus to cytosine arabinoside (araC), an inhibitor of DNA polymerases and a common inducer of fragile sites. We demonstrate that the RNU2 locus is sensitive to the drug and that araC-induced fragility is dependent upon a functional U2 gene and on the expression of the cellular p53 protein. Our results identify a novel DNA structure associated with fragile sites and suggest a role for transcription and repair processes in RNU2 fragility.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

The U6 small nuclear RNA gene family of potato.

Using the inverse polymerase chain reaction (IPCR), 19 U6snRNA gene promoters were isolated from the potato genome. Analysis of their nucleotide sequences revealed the existence of two subfamilies. Promoters from class 1 harbour the typical sequence elements required for plant snRNA gene transcription whereas those from class 2 do not have a TATA box. Three promoters were fused to a modified U6snRNA-coding sequence to allow their activity to be monitored in tobacco protoplasts. Two of the promoters, one from either class, were found to be active. Comparison of potato U6snRNA gene promoter sequences with those found in other plant species showed various degrees of homology. In addition, the entire nucleotide sequences of seven potato U6snRNA genes and one pseudogene were determined. The overall frequency of nucleotide changes after PCR was found to be 1.15 x 10(-3). The mutations appeared to be clustered in a distinct area and were all A-to-G/T-to-C substitutions.

Base Sequence↗

Destruction of U2, U4, or U6 small nuclear RNA blocks trans splicing in trypanosome cells.

We have used permeable cells of Trypanosoma brucei to analyze the role of snRNAs in the trans splicing process. Degradation of U2, U4, or U6 snRNA by site-directed cleavage with complementary deoxyoligonucleotides and RNAase H inhibits trans splicing of the spliced leader (SL) RNA and newly synthesized alpha-tubulin pre-mRNAs. Cleavage of U snRNAs abolishes the appearance of putative trans splicing reaction intermediates and products, namely, linear branched molecules consisting of the SL intron joined to high molecular weight RNA (Y structures) and free SL intron. This indicates that U snRNAs are required for an early step in trans splicing. alpha-tubulin transcripts synthesized in the absence of trans splicing are unstable, suggesting that the addition of the SL sequence stabilizes pre-mRNAs against degradation. Our results provide direct evidence for the participation of U2 and U4/U6 snRNPs in trans splicing.

Animals↗

Epitope regions on U1 small nuclear RNA recognized by anti-U1RNA-specific autoantibodies.

Autoantibodies specifically directed to U1RNA were found in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) overlap syndromes. To obtain more insight in the mechanism responsible for this U1RNA-specific antibody formation and to use the antibodies eventually as a tool to study U1RNA-protein (U1RNP) interactions, the B cell epitopes on U1RNA were mapped. Using in vitro synthesized domains of U1RNA, the main epitope regions were found in stemloops II and IV. Furthermore, 3'-end or 5'-end truncation of both stemloop II and stemloop IV showed that the conformation of the stemloops is critical for antibody recognition. Mutant studies on both stemloops indicated that in the case of stemloop II the stem is the main antigenic region, whereas in stemloop IV, the loop (E-loop) is a main target. The results of this study support the idea that the anti-U1RNA autoantibody could be the result of a process driven by the human U1RNP complex itself (antigen-driven process).

Antibody Affinity↗

Accurate and efficient 3' processing of U2 small nuclear RNA precursor in a fractionated cytoplasmic extract.

The small nuclear RNAs U1, U2, U4, and U5 are cofactors in mRNA splicing and, like the pre-mRNAs with which they interact, are transcribed by RNA polymerase II. Also like mRNAs, mature U1 and U2 RNAs are generated by 3' processing of their primary transcripts. In this study we have investigated the in vitro processing of an SP6-transcribed human U2 RNA precursor, the 3' end of which matches that of authentic human U2 RNA precursor molecules. Although the SP6-U2 RNA precursor was efficiently processed in an ammonium sulfate-fractionated HeLa cytoplasmic S100 extract, the product RNA was unstable. Further purification of the processing activity on glycerol gradients resolved a 7S activity that nonspecifically cleaved all RNAs tested and a 15S activity that efficiently processed the 3' end of pre-U2 RNA. The 15S activity did not process the 3' end of a tRNA precursor molecule. As demonstrated by RNase protection, the processed 3' end of the SP6-U2 RNA maps to the same nucleotides as does mature HeLa U2 RNA.

Cytoplasm↗

Sequences required for 3' end formation of human U2 small nuclear RNA.

Xenopus oocytes injected with human U2 snRNA genes synthesize mature U2 as well as a U2 precursor with about 10 extra 3' nucleotides (human pre-U2 RNA). Formation of the pre-U2 3' end requires a downstream element located between position +16 and +37 in the U2 3'-flanking sequence. The distance between this element and the U2 coding region can be increased without affecting formation of the pre-U2 3' end. When the natural sequence surrounding the pre-U2 3' end is changed, novel 3' ends are still generated within a narrow range upstream from the element. The 3' terminal stem-loop of U2 snRNA is not required for pre-U2 3' end formation. A sequence within the 3' element (GTTTN0-3AAAPuNNAGA) is conserved among snRNA genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. Our results suggest that the 3' ends of pre-U2 RNA and histone mRNA may be generated by related but distinct RNA processing mechanisms.

Animals↗

Accurate transcription of the Trypanosoma brucei U2 small nuclear RNA gene in a homologous extract.

In vitro transcription systems are a classic means to dissect mechanisms of gene expression at the molecular level. To begin an analysis of the biochemistry of gene expression in trypanosomes, we established an in vitro transcription system from cultured insect forms of Trypanosoma brucei. As a model we used the U2 snRNA gene which in vivo is transcribed by an RNA polymerase with characteristics of animal RNA polymerase III. To obtain maximum sensitivity in our assay, we adapted the so-called G-less cassette approach to the U2 snRNA gene promoter. Since an intragenic control region is required for accurate expression in vivo, we generated a series of mutations to substitute all guanosine residues in the intragenic control region. These mutants were shown to retain full transcriptional activity in vivo after transient expression in insect-form trypanosomes. In a cell-free extract, synthesis of the U2 G-less cassette RNA is correctly initiated, is mediated by RNA polymerase III as determined by RNA polymerase inhibitor studies, and is dependent on the integrity of the upstream B box element.

Animals↗