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Allelism of PSO4 and PRP19 links pre-mRNA processing with recombination and error-prone DNA repair in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The radiation-sensitive mutant pso4-1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae shows a pleiotropic phenotype, including sensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents, nearly blocked sporulation and reduced mutability. We have cloned the putative yeast DNA repair gene PSO4 from a genomic library by complementation of the blocked UV-induced mutagenesis and of sporulation in diploids homozygous for pso4-1. Sequence analysis revealed that gene PSO4 consists of 1512 bp located upstream of UBI4 on chromosome XII and encodes a putative protein of 56.7 kDa. PSO4 is allelic to PRP19, a gene encoding a spliceosome-associated protein, but shares no significant homology with other yeast genes. Gene disruption with a destroyed reading frame of our PSO4 clone resulted in death of haploid cells, confirming the finding that PSO4/PRP19 is an essential gene. Thus, PSO4 is the third essential DNA repair gene found in the yeast S.cerevisiae.

Alleles↗

The N- and C-terminal RNA recognition motifs of splicing factor Prp24 have distinct functions in U6 RNA binding.

Prp24 is an essential yeast U6 snRNP protein with four RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) that facilitates the association of U4 and U6 snRNPs during spliceosome assembly. Genetic interactions led to the proposal that RRMs 2 and 3 of Prp24 bind U6 RNA, while RRMs 1 and 4 bind U4 RNA. However, the function of each RRM has yet to be established through biochemical means. We compared the binding of recombinant full-length Prp24 and truncated forms lacking RRM 1 or RRM 4 with U6 RNA. Contrary to expectations, we found that the N-terminal segment containing RRM 1 is important for high-affinity binding to U6 RNA and for discrimination between wild-type U6 RNA and U6 with point mutations in the 3' intramolecular stem-loop. In contrast, deletion of RRM 4 and the C terminus did not significantly alter the affinity for U6 RNA, but resulted in the formation of higher order Prp24.U6 complexes. Truncation and internal deletion of U6 RNA mapped three Prp24-binding sites, with the central site providing most of the affinity for Prp24. A newly identified temperature-sensitive lethal point mutation in RRM 1 is exacerbated by mutations in the U6 RNA telestem, as is a mutation in RRM 2, but not one in RRM 3. We propose that RRMs 1 and 2 of yeast Prp24 bind the same central site in U6 RNA that is bound by the two RRMs of human Prp24, and that RRMs 3 and 4 bind lower affinity flanking sites, thereby restricting the stoichiometry of Prp24 binding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The role of nucleotide sequences in splice site selection in eukaryotic pre-messenger RNA.

Alternative splicing of eukaryotic messenger RNA precursors is now known to be of widespread importance in generating multiple transcripts from a single gene. This phenomenon has emphasized the problem of the way in which splice sites are selected; recent studies have discussed the role of secondary structure or affinity and spatial relationships in this selection. Splice site sequences vary widely, although a loose consensus has been derived for the 9 bases around the 5' splice site and for a longer region around the 3' splice site. Mutagenesis experiments have defined the sequences essential for a potential 5' splice site, but, except for some experiments with the E1a gene of adenovirus, these experiments have not examined 5' splice site sequences for features responsible for site preference where alternative splicing sites exist. Such tests require a choice of site: an appropriate reference site and a constant position at which test sites are introduced. We have begun a series of experiments designed to show whether splice site sequences can be ranked in a hierarchy of preferential use. Here we show that the archetypal consensus sequence is used efficiently, and characterize the cryptic sites of beta-globin: sequences alone can explain why these sites are not normally used. We also show with the E1a gene of adenovirus, a simple example of alternative splicing, that one of the two 5' splice sites used by this gene is intrinsically stronger. We also demonstrate that tandem repeats and secondary structure influence the choice of sites in vivo. We discuss the mechanism of splice site selection.

Adenovirus Early Proteins↗

Domains 2 and 3 interact to form critical elements of the group II intron active site.

Group II introns are self-splicing RNA molecules that also behave as mobile genetic elements. The secondary structure of group II intron RNAs is typically described as a series of six domains that project from a central wheel. Most structural and mechanistic analyses of the intron have focused on domains 1 and 5, which contain the residues essential for catalysis, and on domain 6, which contains the branch-point adenosine. Domains 2 and 3 (D2, D3) have been shown to make important contributions to intronic activity; however, information about their function is quite limited. To elucidate the role of D2 and D3 in group II ribozyme catalysis, we built a series of multi-piece ribozyme constructs based on the ai5gamma group II intron. These constructs are designed to shed light on the roles of D2 and D3 in some of the major reactions catalyzed by the intron: 5'-exon cleavage, branching, and substrate hydrolysis. Reactions with these constructs demonstrate that D3 stimulates the chemical rate constant of group II intron reactions, and that it behaves as a form of catalytic effector. However, D3 is unable to associate independently with the ribozyme core. Docking of D3 is mediated by a short duplex that is found at the base of D2. In addition to recruiting D3 into the core, the D2 stem directs the folding of the adjacent j(2/3) linker, which is among the most conserved elements in the group II intron active site. In turn, the D2 stem contributes to 5'-splice site docking and ribozyme conformational change. Nucleotide analog interference mapping suggests an interaction between the D2 stem and D3 that builds on the known theta-theta' interaction and extends it into D3. These results establish that D3 and the base of D2 are key elements of the group II intron core and they suggest a hierarchy for active-site assembly.

Base Sequence↗

Identification of novel genes required for yeast pre-mRNA splicing by means of cold-sensitive mutations.

Genetic approaches in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have identified 38 genes required for efficient RNA splicing. The majority have been found by screening (high) temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants for those defective in splicing, an approach limited by the presence of ts hotspots and by the fact that many essential genes rarely mutate to the ts phenotype. To identify novel genes, we screened a collection of 340 cold-sensitive (cs) mutants for those that exhibited diminished splicing of several pre-mRNAs. We isolated 12 mutants in nine complementation groups. Four of these affected known genes (PRP8, PRP16, PRP22, PRP28), three of which encode RNA helicase homologues. Five genes are novel (BRR1, BRR2, BRR3, BRR4, BRR5; Bad Response to Refrigeration); mutations in these genes inhibited splicing before the first chemical step of the reaction. Analysis of BRR2 revealed it to encode an essential member of a new class of RNA helicase-like proteins that includes the yeast antiviral protein Ski2. These data validate the use of cs mutants in genetic screens and raise the possibility that RNA helicase family members are particularly prone to mutation to cold sensitivity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The control of alternative splicing at genes regulating sexual differentiation in D. melanogaster.

The transformer (tra) and doublesex (dsx) genes produce sex-specific transcripts that are generated by differential RNA processing. We have examined the effects of mutants in other regulatory genes controlling sexual differentiation on the patterns of processing of the tra and dsx RNA transcripts. Our results demonstrate that the genes suggested by genetic studies to act upstream of tra or dsx in the sex determination hierarchy regulate these two loci at the level of RNA processing. Our data suggest that the order of interaction of the factors controlling sex is X:A greater than Sxl greater than tra greater than tra-2 greater than dsx greater than or equal to ix greater than terminal differentiation. While these results cannot preclude regulatory interactions at other levels, the regulation of RNA splicing revealed by these experiments is sufficient to account for all of the known functional interactions between the regulatory genes in this hierarchy.

Alleles↗

Novel testis germ cell-specific transcript of the CREB gene contains an alternatively spliced exon with multiple in-frame stop codons.

The gene encoding the cAMP-responsive transcription factor CREB consists of multiple small exons some of which undergo alternative RNA splicing. We describe the finding of a novel transcript of the CREB gene expressed at high levels in the germ cells of the rat testis. The transcript contains an alternatively spliced exon inserted within the sequence encoding the transcriptional transactivation domain of CREB and this exon contains multiple in-frame stop codons. Furthermore, the exon is conserved in both rat and human genes (75% nucleotide identity). Although the function(s) of this RNA or the truncated CREB protein predicted to result from the translation of this unusual transcript is unknown, the high level of expression in the testicular germ cells and remarkable conservation of sequences in rat and human suggests that it may have a unique biological function in these cells.

Animals↗

Multichannel reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction microdevice for rapid gene expression and biomarker analysis.

A microdevice is developed for RNA analysis that integrates one-step reverse transcription and 30 cycles of PCR (RT-PCR) amplification with capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation and fluorescence detection of the amplicons. The four-layer glass-PDMS-glass-glass hybrid microdevice integrates microvalves, on-chip heaters and temperature sensors, nanoliter reaction chambers (380 nL), and 5-cm-long CE separation channels. The direct integration of these processes results in attomolar detection sensitivity (<11 template RNA molecules or approximately 0.1 cellular equiv) and rapid 45-min analysis, while minimizing sample waste and eliminating contamination. Size-based electrophoretic product analysis provides definitive amplicon-size verification and multiplex analysis. Multiplexed differential gene expression analysis is demonstrated on mdh and gyrB E. coli transcripts. RNA splice variant analysis of the RBBP8 gene is used to identify tumorigenic tissue. RT-PCR microdevice analysis of normal breast tissue RNA generates the expected 202-bp normal splice isoform; tumor breast tissue RNA samples generate a 151-bp amplicon signifying the presence of the tumorigenic splice variant. The ability to perform RNA transcript and splice variant biomarker analysis establishes our RT-PCR microdevice as a versatile gene expression platform.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Both VP2 and VP3 are synthesized from each of the alternative spliced late 19S RNA species of simian virus 40.

The late 19S RNAs of simian virus 40 consist of a family of alternatively spliced RNAs, each of which contains open reading frames corresponding to all three of the virion proteins. Two approaches were used to test the hypothesis that each alternatively spliced 19S RNA species is translated to synthesize preferentially only one of the virion proteins. First, we analyzed the synthesis of virion proteins in simian virus 40 mutant-infected monkey cells that accumulate predominantly either only one spliced 19S RNA species or only the 19S RNAs. Second, we determined the virion proteins synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate programmed with specific, in vitro-transcribed 19S RNA species. These results indicated that VP2 and VP3, but not VP1, are synthesized from all 19S RNA species. Quantitative analysis of these data indicated that individual 19S RNA species containing a translation initiation signal upstream of the VP2 AUG codon were translated in a cell extract three- to fivefold less efficiently than were 19S RNA species lacking this signal and that the precise rate of synthesis of VP2 relative to VP3 varied somewhat with the sequence of the leader region. These data are consistent with the synthesis of VP2 and VP3 occurring by a leaky scanning mechanism in which initiation of translation at a specific AUG codon is affected by both (i) the intrinsic efficiency of ribosomes recognizing the sequences surrounding the AUG codon as an initiation signal and (ii) partial interference from 5'-proximal initiation signals and their corresponding open reading frames.

Animals↗

Profound biotinidase deficiency caused by a point mutation that creates a downstream cryptic 3' splice acceptor site within an exon of the human biotinidase gene.

Biotinidase recycles the vitamin biotin from biocytin upon the degradation of the biotin-dependent carboxylases. We have identified a novel point mutation within the biotinidase gene that encodes the signal peptide in two unrelated individuals with profound biotinidase deficiency. Sequence analysis of genomic DNA from these individuals revealed a G to A transition (G100-->A) located 57 bases downstream of the authentic splice acceptor site in exon B. Although this mutation predicts a G34S substitution, it also generates a 3' splice acceptor site. Sequence of the PCR-amplified cDNA from the homozygous child revealed that all the product was shorter than that of normal individuals and was the result of aberrant splicing. The aberrantly spliced transcript lacked 57 bases, including a second in-frame ATG, that encode most of the putative signal peptide and results in an in-frame deletion of 19 amino acids. The mutation results in failure to secrete the aberrant protein into the blood. This is the first reported example in which a point mutation creates a cryptic 3' splice acceptor site motif that is used preferentially over the upstream authentic splice site. The preferential usage of the downstream splice site is not consistent with the 5'-3' scanning model, but is consistent with the exon definition model of RNA splicing.

Amidohydrolases↗

The Drosophila sex determination gene snf is utilized for the establishment of the female-specific splicing pattern of Sex-lethal.

The Drosophila snf gene is a positive regulator of the sex determination gene Sex-lethal in both the germline and the soma. Its role in the soma is only evident when the probability of Sex-lethal activation has been reduced. For instance, in an otherwise wild-type background, females homozygous for a weak snf mutation produce both male and female progeny; however, when mated to males hemizygous for a null allele of Sex-lethal, they produce only male progeny. We demonstrate that the lack of female progeny is due to aberrant Sex-lethal regulation in late embryogenesis. In these mutant embryos, there is little accumulation of the late female-specific spliced RNAs and proteins. In contrast, in early embryogenesis, Sex-lethal regulation is not affected. The accumulation of both the early Sex-lethal transcripts and proteins is normal. These results suggest that the wild-type product of snf plays an important role in establishing the female-specific RNA splicing pattern of Sex-lethal. Whether snf influences the female-specific splice site choice directly or indirectly remains to be determined.

Animals↗

Structural/functional properties of a mammalian multi-component structure containing all major spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles.

An approx. 40 S multi-component structure, consisting of all major spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNP) (U1, U2, U4/U6 and U5) in stable association with a large number of polypeptides, mainly in the range 50-210 kDa, has been reported to exist within rat liver nuclear extracts [Guialis, Moraitou, Patrinou-Georgoula and Dangli (1991) Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 287-296]. Using a new polyclonal antibody recognizing a 63 kDa protein component of the complex, this multi-snRNP assembly was detected within rat liver nuclear extracts as efficiently as with the antibody for the U2 snRNP-specific B' polypeptide. The 63 kDa protein was found to correspond to the 66 kDa subunit of the splicing factor SF3a, a known integral component of the HeLa 17 S U2 snRNP. Anti-2,2,7-trimethylguanosine affinity chromatography was an easy and efficient way of purifying the multi-snRNP complex from rat liver 40 S heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (hnRNP)-containing sucrose gradient fractions. By subsequent glycerol-gradient sedimentation, all known snRNP forms active in RNA splicing were identified among its constituents. A complex structurally similar to the rat multi-snRNP was also identified in HeLa nuclear extracts. Preservation of hnRNP-snRNP interactions was observed within HeLa 40 S fractions. Moreover, these fractions were capable of restoring splicing activity when applied in reconstitution studies to supplement a micrococcal nuclease-treated splicing extract.

Animals↗

Deregulation of alternative splicing of fibronectin pre-mRNA in malignant human liver tumors.

Alternative splicing of fibronectin pre-mRNA at the ED-A region has been shown to be regulated in a tissue- and developmental stage-specific manner. We investigated the splicing pattern at this region in malignant and nonmalignant human liver tissues and found that the relative population of the fibronectin mRNA containing the ED-A sequence is markedly increased in malignant liver tumors. Nontumorous liver tissues including those with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis did not show any significant change in the alternative splicing at the ED-A region. It was also found that the increased expression of the ED-A-containing fibronectin mRNA closely correlates with the occurrence of portal vein tumor thrombus and intrahepatic metastasis, which are two characteristic features of invasive liver tumors. These results indicate that tissue-specific alternative splicing of fibronectin mRNA is modified in human liver cancer and raise a possibility that the putative molecular machinery governing alternative RNA splicing of not only fibronectin but also other cellular proteins is deregulated in malignant human tumors.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Characterization of hprt splicing mutations induced by the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene in Chinese hamster V-79 cells.

The molecular basis for putative aberrant splicing of hypoxanthine (guanine) phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) pre-mRNA in Chinese hamster V-79 cells was determined for 75 independent (+)-7R,8S-dihydroxy-9S,10R-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]-pyrene [(+)-BPDE]-induced and 6 spontaneous 8-azaguanine-resistant mutant clones that had exon deletions in their hprt cDNA. Genomic DNA fragments corresponding to the missing exons and their flanking intron regions were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The results indicated that each of these mutants generated a normal-sized PCR product and resulted from aberrant splicing. For (+)-BPDE-induced aberrant splicing mutants, 81% (61 of 75 clones) had base substitution mutations, 5% (4 of 75 clones) had a single base deletion, and 13% (10 of 75 clones) lacked a detectable mutation in the skipped exon, its flanking intron sequences, or in the upstream donor site of the preceding intron. All mutations at a splice donor site resulted in skipping of the entire upstream neighboring exon, whereas alterations at a splice acceptor site caused skipping of the downstream neighboring exon or activation of a cryptic acceptor site in the downstream exon. Fifty-nine % of the splicing mutants had a mutation occurring at the splice site consensus sequence in the intron, and 28% of the splicing mutants had mutations within exon sequences. Among 21 aberrant splicing mutant clones with a mutation inside an exon sequence, seven were in exon 2, two were in exon 3, and twelve were in exon 4. Evidence is presented that a stemloop structure sequesters the splice donor site of exon 2 in pre-mRNA and plays a role in exon 2 skipping. Mutant clones with mutations stabilizing the proposed stemloop structure inhibited the use of the normal exon 2 splice site which resulted in exon 2 skipping in the hprt mRNA. These mutant clones expressed a mixed population of mRNAs, and both normal-sized and truncated mRNA were formed. Similar to our earlier finding that treatment of V-79 cells with (+)-BPDE resulted in a dose-dependent mutation profile within the coding region of the hprt gene, we also observed the presence of dose-dependence in the profile of (+)-BPDE-induced base substitutions in aberrant splicing mutants. As the dose of (+)-BPDE was decreased, the proportion of base substitution mutations at AT base pairs that affected RNA splicing was increased.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

An acceptor splice site mutation in the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) gene in familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia and neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism.

We studied family members of a large kindred expressing both familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH) and neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT) and found, by PCR amplification of the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) gene exons and flanking intronic sequences, that FHH individuals were heterozygous for a g to t substitution in the last nucleotide of intron 2 (IVS2-1G>T). Defects in messenger RNA splicing were investigated by illegitimate transcription of the CASR gene in lymphoblastoid cells from an FHH affected individual, as well as by transfection of a CASR minigene harboring this mutation into HEK293 cells. The mutation resulted predominantly in exon III skipping causing a shift in exon IV reading frame and introduction of a premature stop codon leading to a predicted truncated protein of 153 amino acids. Interestingly, it was noted that exon III splicing is not 100% efficient in parathyroid, thyroid, and kidney; an exon III-deleted transcript is produced approximately 15% of the time. This is the first description of a splice site mutation in the CASR gene and provides an explanation of the clinical phenotype of the patients.

Alternative Splicing↗

Donor site competition is involved in the regulation of alternative splicing of the rat beta-tropomyosin pre-mRNA.

The rat beta-tropomyosin (beta-TM) gene encodes both skeletal muscle beta-TM mRNA and nonmuscle TM-1 mRNA via alternative RNA splicing. This gene contains eleven exons: exons 1-5, 8, and 9 are common to both mRNAs; exons 6 and 11 are used in fibroblasts as well as in smooth muscle, whereas exons 7 and 10 are used in skeletal muscle. Previously we demonstrated that utilization of the 3' splice site of exon 7 is blocked in nonmuscle cells. In this study, we use both in vitro and in vivo methods to investigate the regulation of the 5' splice site of exon 7 in nonmuscle cells. The 5' splice site of exon 7 is used efficiently in the absence of flanking sequences, but its utilization is suppressed almost completely when the upstream exon 6 and intron 6 are present. The suppression of the 5' splice site of exon 7 does not result from the sequences at the 3' end of intron 6 that block the use of the 3' splice site of exon 7. However, mutating two conserved nucleotides GU at the 5' splice site of exon 6 results in the efficient use of the 5' splice site of exon 7. In addition, a mutation that changes the 5' splice site of exon 7 to the consensus U1 snRNA binding site strongly stimulates the splicing of exon 7 to the downstream common exon 8. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that 5' splice site competition is responsible, in part, for the suppression of exon 7 usage in nonmuscle cells.

Alternative Splicing↗

Aberrant splicing but not mutations of TSG101 in human breast cancer.

The 11p15 gene TSG101 was recently reported to undergo frequent large intragenic deletions in human breast cancer. Here we show that that is generally not the case, but the gene shows aberrant splicing, based on the following observations: identical products were observed in matching normal and fetal tissues; deleted cDNA sequence revealed canonical splicing donor and acceptor site sequences; and genomic Southern blots showed no intragenic deletions in all 72 tumors studied. Nevertheless, relaxation of RNA splicing fidelity may be an oncodevelopmental marker in cancer and may play a general role in other genes and tumors.

Base Sequence↗