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The expression of the essential nuclear splicing factor SC35 is altered by human immunodeficiency virus infection.

In order to identify cellular genes differentially expressed during human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection, we conducted a screen using differential display. The sequence of one of the clones, 0085, was identical to a sequence present in the RNA splicing factor SC35. Since splicing is an essential point of control during HIV gene expression, we carried out additional experiments to examine SC35 expression during HIV infection. RNA blots confirmed that SC35 RNA was induced following HIV infection; a 2-3-fold increase in expression of SC35 RNA was detected by day 2 of HIV infection. Fluorescence-activated cell-sorting revealed concomitant increases in SC35 protein and double staining studies demonstrated that increases in SC35 protein occurred specifically in the HIV-infected cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed SC35 was associated with 2 microm 'nuclear speckles' in both infected and uninfected cells, suggesting that increases in SC35 accumulated in these nuclear structures and that HIV infection did not alter the intracellular distribution of SC35. These findings indicate that an essential splicing factor is induced after HIV infection, suggesting that the consequences of HIV infection include alterations in relative levels of a splicing factor.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Remodelling of the host cell RNA splicing machinery during an adenovirus infection.

Adenovirus makes extensive use of RNA splicing to produce a complex set of spliced mRNAs during virus replication. All transcription units, except pIX and IVa2, encode multiple alternatively spliced mRNAs. The accumulation of viral mRNAs is subjected to a temporal regulation, a mechanism that ensures that proteins that are needed at certain stages of the viral life cycle are produced. The complex interaction between host cell RNA splicing factors and viral regulatory elements has been studied intensely during the last decade. Such studies have begun to produce a picture of how adenovirus remodels the host cell RNA splicing machinery to orchestrate the shift from the early to the late profile of viral mRNA accumulation. Recent progress has to a large extent focused on the mechanisms regulating E1A and L1 alternative splicing. Here we will review the current knowledge of cis-acting sequence element, trans-acting factors and mechanisms controlling E1A and L1 alternative splicing.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

An antisense antidote to oncogenic poison exons.

Splicing factors are frequently mutated in myeloid cancers, causing splicing aberrations that derail the expression of tumor suppressor genes. In SRSF2 mutated cancers, a key oncogenic splicing event is the inclusion of a "poison" exon that introduces an early stop codon in EZH2 mRNA, causing its destabilization. In this issue of Genes & Development, Islam et al. (doi:10.1101/gad.353628.126) define how mutant SRSF2 binding to the poison exon mediates its inclusion and identify an antisense oligonucleotide that represses the exon to restore EZH2 function and rescues hematopoietic defects. Thus, targeting of poison exons, many of which show protumorigenic and antitumorigenic properties, is a promising new avenue to treat cancer.

Oligonucleotides, Antisense↗

Physical association between the EBV protein EBNA-1 and P32/TAP/hyaluronectin.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) is a protein expressed constitutively during EBV latency. It is required to support the replication of the EBV genome once per cell cycle via the latent origin of replication, oriP. EBNA-1 also can activate transcription through binding to the family repeats of oriP. We wished to identify candidate cellular protein(s) that may interact with EBNA-1 and mediate these functions. A 32-kd protein was co-immunoprecipitated with EBNA-1 from 293 cells using a monoclonal antibody EBNA.OT1x. The regions of EBNA-1 which interact with this protein were studied using two deletion clones and mapped to EBNA-1 residues 1-102 and 325-357. Deletion of this region was shown previously in a mutant of EBNA-1 which had dominant-negative effects on both DNA replication and transactivation assays. The 32-kd protein was found to react with a polyclonal antiserum against P32/TAP (HIV Tat associated protein), which is known to interact with other RNA binding proteins and the RNA splicing factor SF2. The function of P32 was therefore proposed to involve RNA processing. In addition, this molecule was recently identified as hyaluronectin, which binds hyaluronic acid. Because several reports documented that intracellular hyaluronic acid can potentially affect cell proliferation, the association between EBNA-1 and P32/TAP/hyaluronectin may help the maintenance of episomal viral DNA within proliferating cells.

Animals↗

Molecular basis of RNA recognition by the human alternative splicing factor Fox-1.

The Fox-1 protein regulates alternative splicing of tissue-specific exons by binding to GCAUG elements. Here, we report the solution structure of the Fox-1 RNA binding domain (RBD) in complex with UGCAUGU. The last three nucleotides, UGU, are recognized in a canonical way by the four-stranded beta-sheet of the RBD. In contrast, the first four nucleotides, UGCA, are bound by two loops of the protein in an unprecedented manner. Nucleotides U1, G2, and C3 are wrapped around a single phenylalanine, while G2 and A4 form a base-pair. This novel RNA binding site is independent from the beta-sheet binding interface. Surface plasmon resonance analyses were used to quantify the energetic contributions of electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions to complex formation and support our structural findings. These results demonstrate the unusual molecular mechanism of sequence-specific RNA recognition by Fox-1, which is exceptional in its high affinity for a defined but short sequence element.

Alternative Splicing↗

Structural basis for the molecular recognition between human splicing factors U2AF65 and SF1/mBBP.

The essential splicing factors SF1 and U2AF play an important role in the recognition of the pre-mRNA 3' splice site during early spliceosome assembly. The structure of the C-terminal RRM (RRM3) of human U2AF(65) complexed to an N-terminal peptide of SF1 reveals an extended negatively charged helix A and an additional helix C. Helix C shields the potential RNA binding surface. SF1 binds to the opposite, helical face of RRM3. It inserts a conserved tryptophan into a hydrophobic pocket between helices A and B in a way that strikingly resembles part of the molecular interface in the U2AF heterodimer. This molecular recognition establishes a paradigm for protein binding by a subfamily of noncanonical RRMs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The SF3b155 N-terminal domain is a scaffold important for splicing.

Recruitment of U2 snRNP to the branch point sequence of introns is a necessary step in pre-mRNA splicing. In the current model, U2AF65, bound at the polypyrimidine tract of the intron, recruits U2 snRNP to the branch point sequence by interacting with the U2 snRNP protein SF3b155. We demonstrate that the N-terminal domain of SF3b155 contains multiple U2AF65 binding sites that are distinct from the binding site for the U2 snRNP protein p14, mapped to amino acids 396-424 of SF3b155. The N-terminal domain of SF3b155 appears to adopt a primarily unfolded structure but is functional to inhibit splicing in vitro. RNA binding studies show that the N-terminal domain of SF3b155 binds RNA nonspecifically and that the sites for U2AF65 binding and RNA binding are overlapping (or the same) within SF3b155. We propose that the N-terminal domain of SF3b155 adopts a primarily unfolded structure that functions as a scaffold to facilitate SF3b155's multiple protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. The multiple U2AF65 binding sites on SF3b155 suggest a model in which multiple U2AF65 molecules bound to the intron could enhance U2 snRNP recruitment to the branch point sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Spermatogenetic expression of RNA-binding motif protein 7, a protein that interacts with splicing factors.

We have previously shown that a ubiquitously expressed RNA splicing factor, RNA-binding motif 7 (RBM7), cloned from a testis complementary DNA library, enhances messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing in vitro and is expressed in a cell-restricted fashion. Herein, we detail its mRNA and protein expression in the rodent testis. RNA in situ hybridization shows that Rbm7 expression in rat germ cells closely parallels the entry and progression of meiosis. The expression commences in type B spermatogonia, it rises during the preleptotene stage, peaks in leptotene spermatocytes, and declines afterward, but increases again in stage-associated pachytene spermatocytes. An affinity-purified polyclonal antibody raised against a peptide corresponding to amino acids 202-224 of the mouse RBM7 recognized the predicted 35 kd protein both in testicular lysates and in in vitro translation reactions. Consistent with the in situ hybridization results, RBM7 immunoreactivity was also detected in type B spermatogonia, spanned the entire period of spermatocyte development, and extended to round and early elongated spermatids. Moreover, RBM7 appeared nuclear up to the mid pachytene stage and became cytoplasmic thereafter. Consistent with its role in RNA splicing, yeast 2-hybrid and glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays show that RBM7 interacts with splicing factor 3b subunit 2 (SAP145), and with the splicing regulator, SRp20. These interactions and the nuclear localization of RBM7 provide insights into its function in pre-mRNA processing in developing spermatocytes during entry into meiosis and progression through the meiotic prophase.

Animals↗

Common variations in the IL4R gene affect splicing and influence natural expression of the soluble isoform.

We previously found the soluble interleukin 4 receptor (sIL4R) to be differently expressed in allergic asthma patients compared to healthy individuals. Here we present data demonstrating the involvement of the sequence variations, c.912-1003A > G, c.912-833T > C, c. 912-630A > G, and c.912-577A > G, in the expressional regulation of IL4R splice variants. By using an IL4R minigene construct, genomic DNA and mRNA from asthma patients and nonasthmatic individuals, we analyzed the function of four highly-linked SNPs, flanking the alternatively-spliced exon in the IL4R gene. Results from the minigene assay showed that the form containing the minor alleles significantly decreased the expression of the soluble IL4R (exon 8+) variant, a decrease that could only be seen in the major construct after increasing amounts of either the splicing factor SRp20, or YT521-B. Analysis of mRNA expression in our human material confirmed the results, demonstrating lower expression of the sIL4R in patients and controls carrying the minor alleles. Together these results show sequence variations as a possible way of altering alternative splicing selection of IL4R in vivo.

Adolescent↗

Elastic fiber proteins in the glomerular mesangium in vivo and in cell culture.

BACKGROUND: Glomerular capillaries of the mammalian kidney are exposed to high intraluminal hydrostatic pressures and require elastic constraint to maintain size, shape, and integrity. Previous morphological and functional studies indicated that the extracellular matrices of glomeruli, that is, basement membrane and mesangial matrix, contribute to glomerular resilience and mechanical stability. Immunofluorescence microscopy findings demonstrated elastic fiber components to be located in the renal vasculature, including glomeruli. The aim of this study was to clarify the exact glomerular localization, composition, and cellular production of these proteins. METHODS: We examined the renal distribution of the elastic fiber proteins fibrillin-1, emilin, microfibril-associated glycoproteins (MAGPs) 1 and 2, latent transforming growth factor-binding protein-1 (LTBP-1), and elastin using immunohistology and immunoelectron microscopy of human, rat, and mouse kidneys. In mesangial cell cultures, we also studied the expression and extracellular deposition of such proteins by use of Northern blotting and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Fibrillin-1, emilin, MAGPs 1 and 2, and LTBP-1 were present in glomeruli of mouse, rat, and human kidney, where they were located predominantly in the mesangial extracellular matrix underlying glomerular endothelium and basement membrane. Several of these proteins, as well as elastin, were also expressed in the renal vasculature. While elastin localized to the glomerular vascular pole in afferent and efferent arterioles extending to Bowman's capsule, it was not found in the glomerular capillary tuft. Cultured mesangial cells of rat, mouse, and human kidneys expressed mRNAs of fibrillin-1, emilin, MAGP-2, and elastin, and the respective proteins localized within and outside of mesangial cells, as shown by immunocytochemistry. mRNA expression of fibrillin-1, emilin, and elastin was strong in quiescent mesangial cells; their gene expression was further up-regulated by transforming growth factor-beta1, while it was transiently reduced when cells were exposed to mitogenic 10% fetal calf serum and platelet-derived growth factor. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that specific elastic fiber proteins are produced and secreted by mesangial cells. This process is regulated by growth factors. Their abundance in the extracellular matrix of the mesangium is in keeping with the concept that elastic fiber proteins contribute to the mechanical stability and elastic strength of the glomerular capillary tuft.

Animals↗

A human papillomavirus E2 transcriptional activator. The interactions with cellular splicing factors and potential function in pre-mRNA processing.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) E2 protein plays an important role in transcriptional regulation of viral genes as well as in viral DNA replication. Unlike most types of HPV, the E2 protein of epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV)-associated HPVs harbors a relatively long hinged region between the terminal, conserved transactivation and DNA binding/dimerization domains. The sequence of EV-HPV E2 hinge contains multiple arginine/serine (RS) dipeptide repeats which are characteristic of a family of pre-messenger RNA splicing factors, called SR proteins. Here we show that the HPV-5 (an EV-HPV) E2 protein can specifically interact with cellular splicing factors including a set of prototypical SR proteins and two snRNP-associated proteins. Transiently expressed HPV-5 E2 protein colocalizes with a nuclear matrix associated-splicing coactivator in nuclear speckled domains. The RS-rich hinge is essential for E2 transactivator interaction with splicing factors and for its subnuclear localization. Moreover, we present functional evidence for the HPV-5 E2 transactivator, which shows that the RS-rich hinge domain of the E2 protein can facilitate the splicing of precursor messenger RNA made via transactivation by E2 itself. Our results, therefore, suggest that a DNA binding transactivator containing an RS-rich sequence can play a dual role in gene expression.

Gene Expression Regulation↗

Transient interaction of BBP/ScSF1 and Mud2 with the splicing machinery affects the kinetics of spliceosome assembly.

Removal of introns from pre-mRNA is an essential step of gene expression. The splicing reaction is catalyzed in a large complex termed the spliceosome. Introns are recognized during the early steps of spliceosome assembly with the formation of commitment complexes. Intron recognition is mediated by the interaction of splicing factors with conserved sequences present in the pre-mRNA. BBP/SF1 participates in this recognition by interacting with the pre-mRNA branch point in both yeast and mammals. This protein, which is essential in yeast, also interacts with the U2AF65/Mud2 splicing factor. However, its precise role in splicing complex formation is still unclear. We have now analyzed the presence of BBP and Mud2 in yeast splicing complexes using supershift and coprecipitation assays. We found that BBP is present together with Mud2 in commitment complex 2 (CC2), but is not detectable in commitment complex 1 (CC1). Furthermore, genetic and biochemical depletion of BBP demonstrated that it is required for CC2 formation. In addition we observed that BBP and Mud2 are not detectable in pre-spliceosomes. These are the first commitment complex components that are shown to be released during or immediately after pre-spliceosome formation. Interestingly, depletion of BBP or disruption of MUD2 had no significant effect on pre-spliceosome formation and splicing in vitro but led to a transient accumulation of CC1. These observations support a model in which BBP and Mud2 are recycled during transition from CC2 to pre-spliceosome.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗

Specific role of the SR protein splicing factor B52 in cell cycle control in Drosophila.

E2F and retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein pRB are important regulators of cell proliferation; however, the regulation of these proteins in vivo is not well understood. In Drosophila there are two E2F genes, an activator, de2f1, and a repressor, de2f2. The loss of de2f1 gives rise to the G(1)/S block accompanied by the repression of E2F-dependent transcription. These defects can be suppressed by mutation of de2f2. In this work, we show that the de2f1 mutant phenotype is rescued by the loss of the pre-mRNA splicing factor SR protein B52. Mutations in B52 restore S phase in clones of de2f1 mutant cells and phenocopy the loss of the de2f2 function. B52 acts upstream of de2f2 and plays a specific role in regulation of de2f2 pre-mRNA splicing. In B52-deficient cells, the level of dE2F2 protein is severely reduced and the expression of dE2F2-dependent genes is deregulated. Reexpression of the intronless copy of dE2F2 in B52-deficient cells restores the dE2F2-mediated repression. These results uncover a previously unrecognized role of the splicing factor in maintaining the G(1)/S block in vivo by specific regulation of the dE2F2 repressor function.

Animals↗

A Drosophila melanogaster homologue of the human DEAD-box gene DDX1.

DEAD-box genes are found throughout evolution and encode RNA-binding proteins. Such proteins include eukaryotic initiation factor-4A, which is essential for protein translation, Vasa, which is essential for germ line development, and a number of nuclear and mitochondrial RNA splicing factors. Transcription of a human DEAD-box gene, DDX1, is elevated in two retinoblastoma cell lines as a result of amplification of the immediate chromosomal region surrounding it, suggesting an important role for this gene in control of cell growth and division. We have isolated a Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) homologue (Ddx1) of DDX1 which is strikingly similar to the human gene. The similarity (58.3% amino acid (aa) identity over 720 aa) extends beyond regions conserved in all DEAD-box proteins and covers the entire lengths of the proteins. The 2.7-kb Dm Ddx1 RNA is expressed throughout development, but its levels are elevated in early embryos. Ddx1 maps to polytene chromosome band 79D4 on the left arm of Dm chromosome 3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The transcription elongation factor CA150 interacts with RNA polymerase II and the pre-mRNA splicing factor SF1.

CA150 represses RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription by inhibiting the elongation of transcripts. The FF repeat domains of CA150 bind directly to the phosphorylated carboxyl-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNAPII. We determined that this interaction is required for efficient CA150-mediated repression of transcription from the alpha(4)-integrin promoter. Additional functional determinants, namely, the WW1 and WW2 domains of CA150, were also required for efficient repression. A protein that interacted directly with CA150 WW1 and WW2 was identified as the splicing-transcription factor SF1. Previous studies have demonstrated a role for SF1 in transcription repression, and we found that binding of the CA150 WW1 and WW2 domains to SF1 correlated exactly with the functional contribution of these domains for repression. The binding specificity of the CA150 WW domains was found to be unique in comparison to known classes of WW domains. Furthermore, the CA150 binding site, within the carboxyl-terminal half of SF1, contains a novel type of proline-rich motif that may be recognized by the CA150 WW1 and WW2 domains. These results support a model for the recruitment of CA150 to repress transcription elongation. In this model, CA150 binds to the phosphorylated CTD of elongating RNAPII and SF1 targets the nascent transcript.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutations in the SF1-U2AF59-U2AF23 complex cause exon skipping in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

To identify genes involved in the mechanism to ensure ordered 5' to 3' exon joining in constitutively spliced pre-mRNAs, we screened for mutants that cause exon skipping in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe using a reporter plasmid, which contains the ura4+ gene with the nda3 intron 1-exon 2-intron 2 sequence. The reporter plasmid was designed to produce the functional ura4+ mRNA, when the central nda3 exon is skipped during the splicing reaction. We mutagenized cells harboring the plasmid by UV irradiation and isolated 34 ura+ mutants that grew on minimal medium. Of those, eight mutants were found to be temperature sensitive (ts) for growth. Complementation analyses revealed that the ts mutants belong to three distinct complementation groups named ods (ordered splicing) 1, 2, and 3. RT-PCR analyses showed that products of exon skipping were actually generated in the ods mutants. We cloned the genes responsible for the ods mutations, and found that ods1+, ods2+, and ods3+ encode splicing factors Prp2p/U2AF59, U2AF23, and SF1, respectively, which form a SF1-U2AF59-U2AF23 complex involved in recognition of the branch-point and 3' splice site sequences in a pre-mRNA. We also showed that mutations in the SF1-U2AF59-U2AF23 binding sequences in the reporter plasmid result in exon skipping in wild-type S. pombe cells. In addition, drugs that decrease the rate of transcription elongation were found to suppress the exon skipping in the ods mutants. These results suggest that co-transcriptional recognition of a nascent pre-mRNA by the SF1-U2AF59-U2AF23 complex is essential for ordered exon joining in constitutive splicing in S. pombe.

Base Sequence↗

Biology of EWS/ETS fusions in Ewing's family tumors.

Tumor-associated chromosomal translocations lead to the formation of chimeric fusions between the EWS gene and one of five different ETS transcription factors in Ewing's family tumors (EFTs). The resultant EWS/ETS proteins promote oncogenesis in a dominant fashion in model systems and are necessary for continued growth of EFT cell lines. EWS belongs to a family of genes that encode proteins that may serve as adapters between the RNA polymerase II complex and RNA splicing factors. EWS/ETS fusions have biochemical characteristics of aberrant transcription factors and appear to promote abnormal cellular growth by transcriptionally modulating a network of target genes. Early evidence suggests that EWS/ETS proteins may also impact gene expression through alteration in RNA processing. Elucidation of EWS/ETS target gene networks in the context of other signaling pathways will hopefully lead to biology based therapeutic strategies for EFT.

Cell Division↗

Identification and characterization of a host protein required for efficient template selection in viral RNA replication.

Biochemical studies suggest that positive-strand RNA virus replication involves host as well as viral functions. Brome mosaic virus (BMV) is a member of the alphavirus-like superfamily of animal and plant positive-strand RNA viruses. Yeast expressing the BMV RNA replication proteins 1a and 2a supports BMV RNA replication and mRNA synthesis. Using the ability of BMV to replicate in yeast, we show that efficient BMV RNA replication requires Lsm1p, a yeast protein related to core RNA splicing factors but shown herein to be cytoplasmic. Haploid yeast with an Lsm1p mutation was defective in an early template selection step in BMV RNA replication, involving the helicase-like replication protein 1a and an internal viral RNA element conserved with tRNAs. Lsm1p dependence of this interaction was suppressed by adding 3' poly(A) to the normally unpolyadenylated BMV RNA. Our results show Lsm1p involvement in a specific step of BMV RNA replication and connections between Lsm1p and poly(A) function, possibly through interaction with factors binding mRNA 5' ends.

Amino Acid Sequence↗