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Molecular cloning and expression of alternatively spliced PITSLRE protein kinase isoforms.

Minimal ectopic expression of the p58GTA protein kinase results in a provocative phenotype involving cell cycle delay, mitotic catastrophe, and decreased cell viability. In addition, this kinase is well conserved evolutionarily, ubiquitously expressed, and its genes map to a position on human chromosome 1 frequently deleted in the late stages of tumorigenesis. Here we report that the p58GTA protein kinase is a member of a larger subfamily of proteins. The mRNAs encoding these proteins are generated by alternative splicing from multiple duplicated genes. These isoforms range in size from 50 to 110 kDa. Divergence between the alternatively spliced isoforms is localized to the amino-terminal region of the molecule. The entire p58GTA open reading frame is conserved in most of these p58GTA isoforms. The predicted sequences of the larger isoforms encode bipartite nuclear localization signal sequences and extensive polyglutamic acid domains. Antibodies to the p58GTA isoform were used to confirm the presence of the alternatively spliced isoforms in different cell types as well as identify two additional isoforms that appear to arise from a separate gene(s). Cellular fractionation studies indicate that one of the isoforms is found only in the nucleus, and the remainder are found in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Expression and localization of some p58GTA isoforms suggest that they may have specialized cellular functions. Because of the large number of isoforms generated from multiple genes we propose naming these kinases PITSLRE alpha 1, alpha 2-1, alpha 2-2, alpha 2-3 alpha 2-4, beta 1, beta 2-1, and beta 2-2 based on the conserved sequence of the PSTAIRE box unique to p34cdc2 kinases and the gene from which they are transcribed.

Alternative Splicing↗

Identification of the polypyrimidine tract binding protein-associated splicing factor.p54(nrb) complex as a candidate DNA double-strand break rejoining factor.

The biological effects of ionizing radiation are attributable, in large part, to induction of DNA double-strand breaks. We report here the identification of a new protein factor that reconstitutes efficient double-strand break rejoining when it is added to a reaction containing the five other polypeptides known to participate in the human nonhomologous end-joining pathway. The factor is a stable heteromeric complex of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) and a 54-kDa nuclear RNA-binding protein (p54(nrb)). These polypeptides, to which a variety of functions have previously been attributed, share extensive homology, including tandem RNA recognition motif domains. The PSF.p54(nrb) complex cooperates with Ku protein to form a functional preligation complex with substrate DNA. Based on structural comparison with related proteins, we propose a model where the four RNA recognition motif domains in the heteromeric PSF.p54(nrb) complex cooperate to align separate DNA molecules.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Reduced stability of regularly spliced but not alternatively spliced p53 protein in PARP-deficient mouse fibroblasts.

The interaction between poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and the product of the tumor suppressor gene p53 has been described previously. Here, we have investigated whether PARP deficiency may affect the expression and regulation of wild-type (wt) p53. For this purpose, we have used immortalized cells derived from wt and PARP knockout mice. We have found a clearly reduced basal level of PAb421 immunoreactive wt p53 protein in PARP-deficient cells. The monoclonal antibody PAb421 is known to recognize an epitope in the COOH terminus of normally spliced p53 protein. Under indirect immunofluorescence, this antibody stained nuclei in normal but not in PARP-deficient cells. Despite marked reduction of wt p53 protein in PARP knockout cells, no significant difference of the p53 transcription rate was observed between wt and PARP-deficient cells. Interestingly, in both cell types, an additional p53 transcript representing the alternatively spliced (AS) p53 form was detected. Because of its reactivity with different specific anti-p53 antibodies, we have determined that the p53 protein present in PARP knockout mouse cells possesses characteristic features of AS p53. Our results clearly show that PARP-deficient cells constitutively express the AS form of wt p53 and indicate that the regularly spliced p53 is extremely unstable in the absence of PARP. Moreover, PARP-/- cells fail to transactivate p53-responsive genes. Treatment of PARP-/- cells with genotoxic agents primarily leads to the activation of AS p53 protein.

Animals↗

The snRNP-free U1A (SF-A) complex(es): identification of the largest subunit as PSF, the polypyrimidine-tract binding protein-associated splicing factor.

We have previously shown that a specific monoclonal antibody prepared against the U1A protein, MAb 12E12, is unique in its ability to recognize a form of U1A which is not associated with the U1snRNP. This unique form of U1A, termed snRNP-free U1A or SF-A, was found to be complexed with a novel set of non-snRNP proteins (O'Connor et al., 1997, RNA 3:1444-1455). Here we demonstrate that the largest protein in these SF-A complex(es), p105, is the polypyrimidine-tract binding protein-associated factor (PSF), an auxiliary splicing factor. We show that PSF copurifies and co-immunoprecipitates with SF-A from 293T cell nucleoplasm and that it interacts with SF-A in vitro. In addition, we show that MAb 12E12 inhibits both splicing and polyadenylation in an in vitro coupled splicing and polyadenylation reaction. This suggests that SF-A and/or the SF-A complex(es) perform an important function in both processing reactions and possibly in last exon definition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interaction of the Epstein-Barr virus mRNA export factor EB2 with human Spen proteins SHARP, OTT1, and a novel member of the family, OTT3, links Spen proteins with splicing regulation and mRNA export.

The Epstein-Barr virus early protein EB2 (also called BMLF1, Mta, or SM), a protein absolutely required for the production of infectious virions, shares properties with mRNA export factors. By using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we have identified the human protein OTT3 as an EB2-interacting factor. OTT3 is a new member of the Spen (split end) family of proteins (huSHARP, huOTT1, DmSpen, and muMINT), which are characterized by several N-terminal RNA recognition motifs and a highly conserved C-terminal SPOC (Spen Paralog and Ortholog C-terminal) domain that, in the case of SHARP, has been shown to interact with SMRT/NCoR corepressors. OTT3 is ubiquitously expressed as a 120-kDa protein. Transfected OTT3 is a nonshuttling nuclear protein that co-localizes with co-transfected EB2. We also showed that EB2 interacts with the SPOC domains of both OTT1 and SHARP proteins. Although the OTT3 interaction domain maps within the 40 N-terminal amino acids of EB2, OTT1 and SHARP interact within the C-terminal half of the protein. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the capacity of the OTT3 and OTT1 SPOC domains to interact with SMRT and repress transcription is far weaker than that of SHARP. Thus there is no evidence for a role of OTT3 in transcriptional regulation. Most interestingly, however, we have found that OTT3 has a role in splicing regulation; OTT3 represses accumulation of the alternatively spliced beta-thalassemia mRNAs, but it has no effect on the beta-globin constitutively spliced mRNA. Thus our results suggested a new function for Spen proteins related to mRNA export and splicing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of an unusual intein in chloroplast ClpP protease of Chlamydomonas eugametos.

The proteasome-like ClpP protease is widely distributed and structurally conserved among bacteria and eukaryotic cell organelles. In Chlamydomonas eugametos, however, the chloroplast clpP gene predicted a much larger ClpP protein containing large insertion sequences (ISs). One insertion sequence, IS2, is 456 amino acid residues long and not similar to known proteins. Here we show that IS2 is an unusual intein, and its protein splicing activity in Escherichia coli cells can be activated by a single amino acid substitution. Analysis of IS2 sequence revealed short sequence motifs that are similar to known intein motifs, including putative LAGLI-DADG endonuclease motifs. But a histidine residue conserved at the C terminus of known inteins is replaced in the IS2 sequence by a glycine residue (Gly455), rendering the IS2 sequence incapable of detectable protein splicing when tested in E. coli cells. Changing Gly455 to histidine activated the ability of IS2 to undergo protein splicing in E. coli cells. The IS2 sequence (intein) was precisely excised from a precursor protein, with the flanking sequences (exteins) joined together by a normal peptide bond.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Zinc inhibition of protein trans-splicing and identification of regions essential for splicing and association of a split intein*.

Two important aspects of protein splicing were investigated by employing the trans-splicing intein from the dnaE gene of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. First, we demonstrated that both protein splicing and cleavage at the N-terminal splice junction were inhibited in the presence of zinc ion. The trans-splicing reaction was partially blocked at a concentration of 1-10 microm Zn(2+) and completely inhibited at 100 microm Zn(2+); the inhibition by zinc was reversed in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. We propose that inactivation of Cys(160) at the C-terminal splice junction by the chelation of zinc affects both the N-S acyl rearrangement and the transesterification steps in the splicing pathway. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro assays were established for the determination of intein residues and regions required for splicing or association between the N- and C-terminal intein halves. N-terminal truncation of the intein C-terminal segment inhibited both splicing and association activities, suggesting this region is crucial for the formation of an interface between the two intein halves. The replacement of conserved residues in blocks B and F with alanine abolished splicing but allowed for association. This is the first evidence showing that the conserved residues in block F are required for protein splicing.

Acetolactate Synthase↗

Insulin regulates alternative splicing of protein kinase C beta II through a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathway involving the nuclear serine/arginine-rich splicing factor, SRp40, in skeletal muscle cells.

Insulin regulates the inclusion of the exon encoding protein kinase C (PKC) betaII mRNA. In this report, we show that insulin regulates this exon inclusion (alternative splicing) via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) signaling pathway through the phosphorylation state of SRp40, a factor required for insulin-regulated splice site selection for PKCbetaII mRNA. By taking advantage of a well known inhibitor of PI 3-kinase, LY294002, we demonstrated that pretreatment of L6 myotubes with LY294002 blocked insulin-induced PKCbetaII exon inclusion as well as phosphorylation of SRp40. In the absence of LY294002, overexpression of SRp40 in L6 cells mimicked insulin-induced exon inclusion. When antisense oligonucleotides targeted to a putative SRp40-binding sequence in the betaII-betaI intron were transfected into L6 cells, insulin effects on splicing and glucose uptake were blocked. Taken together, these results demonstrate a role for SRp40 in insulin-mediated alternative splicing independent of changes in SRp40 concentration but dependent on serine phosphorylation of SRp40 via a PI 3-kinase signaling pathway. This switch in PKC isozyme expression is important for increases in the glucose transport effect of insulin. Significantly, insulin regulation of PKCbetaII exon inclusion occurred in the absence of cell growth and differentiation demonstrating that insulin-induced alternative splicing of PKCbetaII mRNA in L6 cells occurs in response to a metabolic change.

Alternative Splicing↗

The HBSP gene is expressed during HBV replication, and its coded BH3-containing spliced viral protein induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

The mechanisms of liver injury in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are defined to be due not to the direct cytopathic effects of viruses, but to the host immune response to viral proteins expressed by infected hepatocytes. We showed here that transfection of mammalian cells with a replicative HBV genome causes extensive cytopathic effects, leading to the death of infected cells. While either necrosis or apoptosis or both may contribute to the death of infected cells, results from flow cytometry suggest that apoptosis plays a major role in HBV-induced cell death. Data mining of the four HBV protein sequences reveals the presence of a Bcl-2 homology domain 3 (BH3) in HBSP, a spliced viral protein previously shown to be able to induce apoptosis and associated with HBV pathogenesis. HBSP is expressed at early stage of our cell-based HBV replication. When transfected into HepG2 cells, HBSP causes apoptosis in a caspase dependent manner. Taken together, our results suggested a direct involvement of HBV viral proteins in cellular apoptosis, which may contribute to liver pathogenesis.

Apoptosis↗

InBase, the Intein Database.

InBase, the Intein Database (http://www.neb.com/neb/inteins.html ), is a comprehensive on-line resource that includes the Intein Registry. Inteins are protein splicing elements that mediate a self-catalytic protein splicing reaction. InBase presents general information as well as detailed data for each intein, including tabu-lated comparisons and a comprehensive bibliography.

Databases, Factual↗

High-throughput sensing and noninvasive imaging of protein nuclear transport by using reconstitution of split Renilla luciferase.

Nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of functional proteins plays a key role in regulating gene expressions in response to extracellular signals. We developed a genetically encoded bioluminescent indicator for monitoring the nuclear trafficking of target proteins in vitro and in vivo. The principle is based on reconstitution of split fragments of Renilla reniformis (Rluc) by protein splicing with a DnaE intein (a catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase III). A target cytosolic protein fused to the N-terminal half of Rluc is expressed in mammalian cells. If the protein translocates into the nucleus, the Rluc moiety meets the C-terminal half of Rluc, and full-length Rluc is reconstituted by protein splicing. We demonstrated quantitative cell-based in vitro sensing of ligand-induced translocation of androgen receptor, which allowed high-throughput screening of exo- and endogenous agonists and antagonists. Furthermore, the indicator enabled noninvasive in vivo imaging of the androgen receptor translocation in the brains of living mice with a charge-coupled device imaging system. These rapid and quantitative analyses in vitro and in vivo provide a wide variety of applications for screening pharmacological or toxicological compounds and testing them in living animals.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

Identification and characterization of the protein-associated splicing factor as a negative co-regulator of the progesterone receptor.

Progesterone is essential in all species for the maintenance of pregnancy, and its withdrawal is required to activate the myometrium and to initiate labor. However, unlike most other species, progesterone levels do not fall at term in humans, raising the paradox as to how labor can occur under the continued influence of progesterone. We hypothesized that an endogenous (myometrial) repressor of the progesterone receptor (PR) could induce a functional withdrawal of progesterone and hence lead to the initiation of labor. We used the human PR as bait in a protein pull-down assay and identified polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) as a PR-interacting protein. PSF functions as a potent inhibitor of PR (but not estrogen receptor) transcriptional activity in mammalian cells. It acts through two novel mechanisms, inducing degradation of the PR through the proteasomal pathway and also interfering with binding of PR to its DNA response element. Importantly, in vivo studies in rats demonstrated a dramatic increase in myometrial PSF expression at term that was temporally associated with reduced levels of the myometrial PR. Accordingly, we propose that PSF acts as a PR corepressor and contributes to the functional withdrawal of progesterone and the initiation of human labor.

Animals↗

DJ-1 transcriptionally up-regulates the human tyrosine hydroxylase by inhibiting the sumoylation of pyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor.

Loss-of-function mutations in DJ-1 cause a subset of familial Parkinson disease (PD). However, the mechanism underlying the selective vulnerability in dopaminergic pathway due to the inactivation of DJ-1 is unclear. Previously, we have reported that DJ-1 is a neuroprotective transcriptional co-activator interacting with the transcriptional co-repressor pyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF). Here we show that DJ-1 and PSF bind and regulate the human tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter. Inactivation of DJ-1 by small interference RNA (siRNA) results in decreased TH expression and l-DOPA production in human dopaminergic cell lines. Consistent with its role as a transcriptional regulator, DJ-1 specifically suppresses the global SUMO-1 modification. High molecular weight sumoylated protein species, including PSF, accumulate in the lymphoblast cells from the patients carrying pathogenic DJ-1 mutations. DJ-1 elevates the TH expression by inhibiting the sumoylation of PSF and preventing its sumoylation-dependent recruitment of histone deacetylase 1. Furthermore, siRNA silencing of DJ-1 decreases the acetylation of TH promoter-bound histones, and histone deacetylase inhibitors restore the DJ-1 siRNA-induced repression of TH. Therefore, our results suggest DJ-1 as a regulator of protein sumoylation and directly link the loss of DJ-1 expression and transcriptional dysfunction to impaired dopamine synthesis.

Humans↗

Protein-dependent splicing of a group I intron in ribonucleoprotein particles and soluble fractions.

The group I intron in the Neurospora mitochondrial large rRNA gene is not self-splicing in vitro. Here, we show that this intron can be spliced from 35S pre-rRNA in RNPs or from deproteinized 35S pre-rRNA or in vitro transcripts by a soluble activity that is present in mitochondrial lysates and can be released from RNPs. Splicing occurs by the same guanosine-initiated transesterification mechanism characteristic of self-splicing group I introns, but is absolutely dependent upon proteins that are presumably required for correct folding of the pre-rRNA. The soluble splicing activity is not simply associated with large subunit ribosomal proteins. Nuclear mutant cyt18-1, which is defective in splicing a number of group I introns in vivo, is grossly deficient in the soluble splicing activity. Our results suggest that the cyt18 gene encodes or regulates a component of an activity that functions in splicing group I introns in Neurospora mitochondria.

Base Sequence↗

Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein represses splicing of a fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 gene alternative exon through exon sequences.

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-2 gene contains two mutually exclusive exons, K-SAM and BEK. We made a cell line designed to become drug-resistant on repression of BEK exon splicing. One drug-resistant derivative of this line carried an insertion within the BEK exon of a sequence containing at least two independent splicing silencers. One silencer was a pyrimidine-rich sequence, which markedly increased binding of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein to the BEK exon. The BEK exon binds to polypyrimidine tract-binding protein even in the silencer's absence. Several exonic pyrimidine runs are required for this binding, and they are also required for overexpression of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein to repress BEK exon splicing. These results show that binding of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein to exon sequences can repress splicing. In epithelial cells, the K-SAM exon is spliced in preference to the BEK exon, whose splicing is repressed. Mutation of the BEK exon pyrimidine runs decreases this repression. If this mutation is combined with the deletion of a sequence in the intron upstream from the BEK exon, a complete switch from K-SAM to BEK exon splicing ensues. Binding of polypyrimidine tract binding protein to the BEK exon thus participates in the K-SAM/BEK alternative splicing choice.

Alternative Splicing↗

Oncogenic TLS/ERG and EWS/Fli-1 fusion proteins inhibit RNA splicing mediated by YB-1 protein.

The translocation liposarcoma protein TLS has recently been shown to function as an adapter molecule coupling gene transcription to RNA splicing. Here we demonstrate that YB-1, a protein known to play important roles in transcription and translation, interacts with the COOH-terminal domains of TLS and the structurally related Ewing's sarcoma protein EWS. Through this interaction, YB-1 is recruited to RNA polymerase II and promotes splicing of E1A pre-mRNA to the 13S isoform. This splicing function of YB-1 is inhibited by exogenous TLS/ERG or EWS/Fli-1 fusion proteins, which bind to RNA polymerase II but fail to recruit the YB-1 protein. In Ewing's sarcoma cells that express endogenous EWS/Fli-1, this linkage between YB-1 and RNA Pol II via EWS (or TLS) was found to be defective. Together, these results suggest that TLS and EWS fusion proteins may contribute to malignant transformation through disruption of RNA splicing mediated by TLS- and EWS-binding proteins such as YB-1.

3T3 Cells↗

A subset of SR proteins activates splicing of the cardiac troponin T alternative exon by direct interactions with an exonic enhancer.

The cardiac troponin T pre-mRNA contains an exonic splicing enhancer that is required for inclusion of the alternative exon 5. Here we show that enhancer activity is exquisitely sensitive to changes in the sequence of a 9-nucleotide motif (GAGGAAGAA) even when its purine content is preserved. A series of mutations that increased or decreased the level of exon inclusion in vivo were used to correlate enhancer strength with RNA-protein interactions in vitro. Analyses involving UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation indicated that only four (SRp30a, SRp40, SRp55, and SRp75) of six essential splicing factors known as SR proteins bind to the active enhancer RNA. Moreover, purified SRp40 and SRp55 activate splicing of exon 5 when added to a splicing-deficient S100 extract. Purified SRp30b did not stimulate splicing in S100 extracts, which is consistent with its failure to bind the enhancer RNA. In vitro competition of SR protein splicing activity and UV cross-linking demonstrated that the sequence determinants for SR protein binding were precisely coincident with the sequence determinants of enhancer strength. Thus, a subset of SR proteins interacts directly with the exonic enhancer to promote inclusion of a poorly defined alternative exon. Independent regulation of the levels of SR proteins may, therefore, contribute to the developmental regulation of exon inclusion.

Alternative Splicing↗