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The C-group heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein proteins bind to the 5' stem-loop of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle.

The C-group heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) proteins bind to nascent pre-messenger RNA. In vitro studies have indicated that the C hnRNP proteins bind particularly strongly to the intron polypyrimidine tract of pre-mRNA and may be important for pre-mRNA splicing. In addition, there is evidence that the interaction of the C hnRNP proteins with pre-mRNA is facilitated by the U1 and U2 small nuclear RNPs (snRNPs). In the present study, we have uncovered another feature of the C hnRNP proteins that may provide a unifying framework for these previous observations; the C hnRNP proteins bind to the 5' stem-loop of the U2 snRNP. This was detected by incubating human 32P-labeled U2 snRNP in micrococcal nuclease-treated HeLa nuclear extracts, followed by UV-mediated protein-RNA cross-linking, which revealed that C hnRNP proteins were cross-linked to 32P-nucleotides in the U2 snRNP. In similar experiments, no cross-linking of C hnRNP proteins to 32P-labeled U1 or U4 snRNPs was observed. The observed cross-linking of C hnRNP proteins to U2 snRNP was efficiently competed by excess U2 RNA and by poly(U) but not by poly(A). No competition was observed with an RNA molecule comprising U2 nucleotides 105-189, indicating that the C hnRNP protein interactive regions of U2 RNA reside solely in the 5' half of the molecule. Oligodeoxynucleotide-mediated RNase H cleavage experiments revealed that a 5' region of U2 RNA including nucleotides 15-28 is essential for the observed C hnRNP protein cross-linking. C hnRNP protein cross-linking to U2 snRNP was efficiently competed by a mini-RNA corresponding to the first 29 nucleotides of U2 RNA, whereas no competition was observed with a variant of this mini-RNA in which the UUUU loop of stem-loop I was mutationally configured into a single-stranded RNA by replacing the stem with non-pairing nucleotides. Competition experiments with another mutant mini-U2 RNA in which the UUUU loop was replaced by AAAA indicated that both the UUUU loop and the stem are important for C hnRNP protein cross-linking, a finding consistent with other recent data on the RNA sequence specificity of C hnRNP protein binding.

Binding, Competitive↗

Small nuclear ribonucleoproteins and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins in the amphibian germinal vesicle: loops, spheres, and snurposomes.

We have examined the distribution of snRNPs in the germinal vesicle (GV) of frogs and salamanders by immunofluorescent staining and in situ nucleic acid hybridization. The major snRNAs involved in pre-mRNA splicing (U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6) occur together in nearly all loops of the lampbrush chromosomes, and in hundreds to thousands of small granules (1-4 microns diameter) suspended in the nucleoplasm. The loops and granules also contain several antigens that are regularly associated with snRNAs or spliceosomes (the Sm antigen, U1- and U2-specific antigens, and the splicing factor SC35). A second type of granule, often distinguishable by morphology, contains only U1 snRNA and associated antigens. We propose the term "snurposome" to describe the granules that contain snRNPs ("snurps"). Those that contain only U1 snRNA are A snurposomes, whereas those that contain all the splicing snRNAs are B snurposomes. GVs contain a third type of snRNP granule, which we call the C snurposome. C snurposomes range in size from less than 1 micron to giant structures greater than 20 microns in diameter. Usually, although not invariably, they have B snurposomes on their surface. They may also contain from one to hundreds of inclusions. Because of their remarkably spherical shape, C snurposomes with their associated B snurposomes have long been referred to as spheres or sphere organelles. Most spheres are free in the nucleoplasm, but a few are attached to chromosomes at specific chromosome loci, the sphere organizers (SOs). The relationship of sphere organelles to other snRNP-containing structures in the GV is obscure. We show by immunofluorescent staining that the lampbrush loops and B snurposomes also react with antibodies against heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). Transcription units on the loops are uniformly stained by anti-hnRNP and anti-snRNP antibodies, suggesting that nascent transcripts are associated with hnRNPs and snRNPs along their entire length, perhaps in the form of a unitary hnRNP/snRNP particle. That B snurposomes contain so many components involved in pre-mRNA packaging and processing suggests that they may serve as sites for assembly and storage of hnRNP/snRNP complexes destined for transport to the nascent transcripts on the lampbrush chromosome loops.

Animals↗

Conserved amino acid residues within and outside of the N-terminal ribonucleoprotein motif of U1A small nuclear ribonucleoprotein involved in U1 RNA binding.

By the use of hybrids between a U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP: U1A) and a U2 snRNP (U2B") we have identified regions containing 29 U1A-specific amino acid residues scattered throughout the 117 N-terminal residues of the protein, which are involved in binding to U1 RNA. The U1A-specific amino acid residues have been arbitrarily divided into seven contiguous groups. None of these groups is sufficient for U1 binding when transferred singly into the U2B" context, and none of the groups is essential for U1 binding in U1A. Several different combinations of two or more groups can, however, confer the ability to bind U1 RNA to U2B", suggesting that most or all of the U1A-specific amino acid residues contribute incrementally to the strength of the specific binding interaction. Further evidence for the importance of the U1A-specific amino acid residues, some of which lie outside the region previously shown to be sufficient for U1 RNA binding, is obtained by comparison of the sequence of human and Xenopus laevis U1A cDNAs. These are extremely similar (94.4% identical) between amino acid residues 7 and 114 but much less conserved immediately upstream and downstream from this region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Direct binding of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein G to the Sm site of small nuclear RNA. Ultraviolet light cross-linking of protein G to the AAU stretch within the Sm site (AAUUUGUGG) of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein reconstituted in vitro.

The major small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) U1, U2, U5 and U4/U6 participate in the splicing of pre-mRNA. U1, U2, U4 and U5 RNAs share a highly conserved sequence motif PuA(U)nGPu, termed the Sm site, which is normally flanked by two hairpin loops. The Sm site provides the major binding site for the group of common proteins, B', B, D1, D2, D3, E, F and G, which are shared by the spliceosomal snRNPs. We have investigated the ability of common snRNP proteins to recognize the Sm site of snRNA by using ultraviolet light-induced RNA-protein cross-linking within U1 snRNP particles. The U1 snRNP particles, reconstituted in vitro, contained U1 snRNA labelled with 32P. Cross-linking of protein to this U1 snRNA occurred only in the presence of the single-stranded stretch of snRNA that makes up the conserved Sm site. Characterization of the cross-linked protein by one and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated that snRNP protein G had become cross-linked to the U1 snRNA. This was confirmed by specific immunoprecipitation of the cross-linked RNA-protein complex with an anti-G antiserum. The cross-link was located on the U1 snRNA by fingerprint analysis with RNases T1 and A; this demonstrated that the protein G has been cross-linked to the AAU stretch within the 5'-terminal half of the Sm site (AAUUUGUGG). These results suggest that the snRNP protein G may be involved in the direct recognition of the Sm site.

Autoantigens↗

Identification of two RNA-binding proteins in Balbiani ring premessenger ribonucleoprotein granules and presence of these proteins in specific subsets of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles.

Balbiani ring (BR) granules are premessenger ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) generated in giant chromosomal puffs, the BRs, in the larval salivary glands of the dipteran chironomus tentans. Monoclonal antibodies were raised against nuclear proteins collected on a single-stranded-DNA-agarose affinity column, and two of them were used to identify RNA-binding proteins in BR granules. First, in Western blots (immunoblots), one of the antibodies recognized a 36-kDa protein and the other recognized a 45-KDa protein. Second, both antibodies bound to the BRs in immunocytological experiments. It was shown in cross-linking experiments that the two proteins are associated with heterogeneous nuclear RNP (hnRNP) complexes extracted from C. tentans nuclei. By immunoelectron microscopy of isolated and partly unfolded BR RNPs, it was specifically demonstrated that the BR granules contain the two proteins and, in addition, that both proteins are distributed frequently along the RNP fiber of the particles. Thus, the 36- and 45-KDa proteins are likely to be abundant, RNA-binding proteins in the BR particles. To elucidate to what extent the two proteins are also present in other hnRNPs, we studied the binding of the antibodies to chromosomal puffs in general. It was observed that many puffs in addition to the BRs harbor the two proteins, but there are also puffs containing only one of the components, either the 36- or the 45-kDa protein. We conclude that the two proteins are not randomly bound to all hnRNPs but that each of them seems to be linked to a specific subset of the particles.

Animals↗

The structure of mammalian small nuclear ribonucleoproteins. Identification of multiple protein components reactive with anti-(U1)ribonucleoprotein and anti-Sm autoantibodies.

The Sm small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) from mammalian cells have been characterized as containing U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 RNA associated with some subset of at least 10 distinct polypeptides (called 68K, A, A', B, B', C, D, E, F, and G) that range in molecular weight from 68,000 to 11,000. Whereas this entire collection of snRNP particles is precipitated by patient anti-Sm autoantibodies, anti-(U1)RNP autoantibodies specifically recognize U1 snRNPs. Here, we have performed immunoblots using the sera from 29 patients and a mouse anti-Sm monoclonal antibody to identify which HeLa cell snRNP proteins carry anti-Sm or anti-(U1)RNP antigenic determinants. Strikingly, every serum surveyed, as well as the monoclonal antibody, recognizes determinants on two or more snRNP protein components. The three proteins, 68K, A, and C, that uniquely fractionate with U1 snRNPs are specifically reactive with anti-(U1)RNP sera in blots. Anti-Sm patient sera and the mouse monoclonal antibody react with proteins B, B', D, and sometimes E, one or more of which must be present on all Sm snRNPs. The blot results combined with data obtained from a refined 32P-labeled RNA immunoprecipitation assay reveal that, in our collection of the sera from 29 patients, anti-Sm rarely exists in the absence of equal or higher titers of anti-(U1)RNP; moreover, (U1)RNP sera often contain detectable levels of anti-Sm. Our findings further define the protein composition of the Sm snRNPs and raise intriguing questions concerning the relatedness of snRNP polypeptides and the mechanism of autoantibody induction.

Animals↗

Nuclear estrogen receptor II (nER-II) is involved in the estrogen-dependent ribonucleoprotein transport in the goat uterus: II. Isolation and characterization of three small nuclear ribonucleoprotein proteins which bind to nER-II.

Three proteins of a goat uterine small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) fraction, which bind to nuclear estrogen receptor-II (nER-II) have been isolated and purified. These are the p32, p55, and p60 of which p32 is the major nER-II binding protein. Indirect evidence reveals that p32 binds to the nuclear export signal (NES) on the nER-II. nER-II is a snRNA binding protein while p32 does not bind to the RNA. nER-II along with p32 and p55 form an effective Mg(++)ATPase complex, the activation of which appears to be the immediate reason behind the RNP exit from the nuclei following estradiol exposure. The three nER-II binding proteins bind to the nuclear pore complex; nER-II does not possess this property.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Purification of ribonucleoproteins by a novel approach: isolation of the SSB1 ribonucleoprotein from yeast and demonstration that it has no role in mRNA splicing.

A novel approach is described to purify potential ribonucleoproteins (RNP) of yeast. The method assays a yeast RNP complex, assembled in vitro on actin pre-mRNA, by low-ionic strength acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The minimal protein components of this RNP complex were three proteins, one of 30 kDa and two at 42-44 kDa, defined by formation of the complex on biotinylated-RNA, binding of this complex to avidin-agarose, and salt elution of the protein in the biotinylated-RNP complex. Using the assay for RNP complex formation, an RNP protein was purified to homogeneity on the basis of its affinity towards single-stranded DNA and RNA. This RNP protein turned out to be identical to a known RNP protein, the single-stranded binding protein 1 (ssb1) of yeast, on the basis of identical gel electrophoretic migration, antibody cross-reactivity, and identical properties on the gel complex formation assay. In vitro mRNA splicing was normal in extracts made from a yeast strain missing ssb1 (ssb1- strain). Addition of anti-ssb1 antibody to splicing extracts made from a wild type strain did not inhibit or diminish splicing. Instead, mRNA splicing was reproducibly stimulated several fold, indicating competition between ssb1 and splicing factors for binding to single-stranded RNA in the extracts. RNP complexes still formed in the ssb1- strain, demonstrating that it would be possible to purify other RNP proteins from this strain using the gel complex formation assay.

Actins↗

Diversity of a ribonucleoprotein family in tobacco chloroplasts: two new chloroplast ribonucleoproteins and a phylogenetic tree of ten chloroplast RNA-binding domains.

Two new ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) have been identified from a tobacco chloroplast lysate. These two proteins (cp29A and cp29B) are nuclear-encoded and have a less affinity to single-stranded DNA as compared with three other chloroplast RNPs (cp28, cp31 and cp33) previously isolated. DNA sequencing revealed that both contain two consensus sequence-type homologous RNA-binding domains (CS-RBDs) and a very acidic amino-terminal domain but shorter than that of cp28, cp31 and cp33. Comparison of cp29A and cp29B showed a 19 amino acid insertion in the region separating the two CS-RBDs in cp29B. This insertion results in three tandem repeats of a glycine-rich sequence of 10 amino acids, which is a novel feature in RNPs. The two proteins are encoded by different single nuclear genes and no alternatively spliced transcripts could be identified. We constructed a phylogenetic tree for the ten chloroplast CS-RBDs. These results suggest that there is a sizable RNP family in chloroplasts and the diversity was mainly generated through a series of gene duplications rather than through alternative pre-mRNA splicing. The gene for cp29B contains three introns. The first and second introns interrupt the first CS-RBD and the third intron does the second CS-RBD. The position of the first intron site is the same as that in the human hnRNP A1 protein gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Suppression of in vitro production of anti-U1-ribonucleoprotein antibody by monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody to anti-U1-ribonucleoprotein antibody.

We produced monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody against immunoaffinity purified anti-U1-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibody from a patient (K.T.), by the cell fusion procedure. The specificity of monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (IgG1, kappa) was determined by inhibition studies. With the monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody, cross-reactive idiotypes on anti-U1-RNP antibodies from unrelated patients with anti-U1-RNP antibody was detected in 57% of the samples. The anti-idiotypic antibody specifically suppressed the in vitro production of anti-U1-RNP antibody by lymphocytes from the patient K.T., and unrelated patients with a cross-reactive idiotype, in whom idiotype-reactive T cells were demonstrated. The results indicate that anti-idiotypic antibody may modulate the regulation of in vitro anti-U1-RNP antibody production.

Animals↗