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Analysis of splicing parameters in the dystrophin gene: relevance for physiological and pathogenetic splicing mechanisms.

The molecular mechanisms that direct splice-site selection and assure orderly exon juxtaposition have not been fully clarified. The extraordinary nature of the dystrophin gene points to several hurdles in the processing of transcripts. In this study, dystrophin statistical and thermodynamic splicing parameters have been evaluated providing the first comprehensive description for a single human gene. We show that concomitant use of consensus values (CV) and DeltaDG degrees 37 values for U1snRNA annealing better discriminates between real donor sites and donor-like sequences. Evidence is also provided that, on average, out-of-frame dystrophin exons have significantly stronger CVs and more favorable DeltaDG degrees 37 values; this feature has never been reported and might reflect evolutionary-driven minimization of out-of-frame exon misplicing. Dystrophin splicing mutations have been reported to determine either Duchenne or Becker Muscular Dystrophy, but no comprehensive genotypic/phenotypic correlation has ever been investigated. We have analyzed splicing affecting single base-pair substitutions in the dystrophin gene with respect to their effect on splicing parameters; functional and clinical consequences are also reported. We have found 5'-splice-site mutation occurrence to be statistically related to mutability quotients and propose the use of DeltaDG degrees 37 values as a more effective tool than CV alone to describe donor site mutation consequences. Our analysis also indicates a nearly 100% correlation between clinical phenotype and the reading-frame rule determined at the RNA level. We consider that elucidation of the relative importance of splicing determinants might help to clarify the molecular mechanisms that direct correct splicing in complex genes and might be useful in the validation of predictive models.

Dystrophin↗

Mutually exclusive splicing of alpha-tropomyosin exons enforced by an unusual lariat branch point location: implications for constitutive splicing.

Alternative splicing of alpha-tropomyosin pre-mRNA involves mutually exclusive utilization of exons 2 and 3, exon 3 being preferentially selected in most cells. This mutually exclusive behavior is enforced by absolute incompatibility between the adjacent splice sites of the two exons, due to close proximity of the exon 3 branch point to exon 2. The branch point, with an associated polypyrimidine tract, is in an unusual location, 177 nt upstream of the acceptor, only 42 nt from the exon 2 splice donor site. Splicing of exon 2 to 3 is consequently blocked prior to formation of an active spliceosome complex. This block to splicing can be relieved by insertion of spacer elements that increase the donor site-branch point separation to 51-59 nt. The unconventional relative location of the constitutive cis splicing elements therefore provides a simple mechanistic basis for strict mutually exclusive splicing. These results not only demonstrate that the branch point is not specified by proximity to the splice acceptor site, but rather suggest that it is the acceptor site which is specified relative to the branch point.

Animals↗

An early ancestor in the evolution of splicing: a Trypanosoma cruzi serine-arginine-rich protein (TcSR) is functional in cis-splicing.

A novel serine-arginine-rich protein designated TcSR was identified in Trypanosoma cruzi. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals that TcSR is a member of the SR protein family of splicing factors that contains two RNA-binding domains at the N-terminal side and several serine-arginine repeats at the COOH-terminus. Over expression of either TcSR or the human SR-protein associated splicing factor/splicing factor 2 (ASF/SF2) in wild-type Schizosaccharomyces pombe, provoked an elongated phenotype similar to that of fission yeast over expressing the SR-containing splicing factor Prp2, a U2AF(65) orthologue. When a double mutant strain lacking two SR protein-specific protein kinases was used, expression of TcSR or human SR ASF/SF2 splicing factor reverted the mutant to a wild-type phenotype. Transient expression of TcSR in HeLa cells stimulated the inclusion of the EDI exon of human fibronectin in an in vivo functional alternative cis-splicing assay. Inclusion was dependent on a splicing enhancer sequence present in the EDI exon. In addition, TcSR and peptides carrying TcSR-RS domain sequences were phosphorylated by a human SR protein kinase. These results indicate that TcSR is a member of the SR splicing network and that some components common to the trans- and cis-splicing machineries evolved from the early origins of the eukaryotic lineage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of a U2/U6 helix la mutant that influences 3' splice site selection during nuclear pre-mRNA splicing.

Base substitutions in U2/U6 helix I, a conserved base-pairing interaction between the U6 and U2 snRNAs, have previously been found to specifically block the second catalytic step of nuclear pre-mRNA splicing. To further assess the role of U2/U6 helix I in the second catalytic step, we have screened mutations in U2/U6 helix I to identify those that influence 3' splice site selection using a derivative of the yeast actin pre-mRNA. In these derivatives, the spacing between the branch site adenosine and 3' splice site has been reduced from 43 to 12 nt and this results in enhanced splicing of mutants in the conserved 3' terminal intron residue. In this context, mutation of the conserved 3' intron terminal G to a C also results in the partial activation of a nearby cryptic 3' splice site with U as the 3' terminal intron nucleotide. Using this highly sensitive mutant substrate, we have identified a mutation in the U6 snRNA (U57A) that significantly increases the selection of the cryptic 3' splice site over the normal 3' splice site and augments its utilization relative to that observed with the wild-type U2 or U6 snRNAs. In a previous study, we found that the same U6 mutation suppressed the effects of an A-to-G branch site mutation in an allele-specific fashion. The ability of U6-U57 mutants to influence the fidelity of both branch site and 3' splice site recognition suggests that this nucleotide may participate in the formation of the active site(s) of the spliceosome.

Actins↗

The bI4 group I intron binds directly to both its protein splicing partners, a tRNA synthetase and maturase, to facilitate RNA splicing activity.

The imported mitochondrial leucyl-tRNA synthetase (NAM2p) and a mitochondrial-expressed intron-encoded maturase protein are required for splicing the fourth intron (bI4) of the yeast cob gene, which expresses an electron transfer protein that is essential to respiration. However, the role of the tRNA synthetase, as well as the function of the bI4 maturase, remain unclear. As a first step towards elucidating the mechanistic role of these protein splicing factors in this group I intron splicing reaction, we tested the hypothesis that both leucyl-tRNA synthetase and bI4 maturase interact directly with the bI4 intron. We developed a yeast three-hybrid system and determined that both the tRNA synthetase and bI4 maturase can bind directly and independently via RNA-protein interactions to the large bI4 group I intron. We also showed, using modified two-hybrid and three-hybrid assays, that the bI4 intron bridges interactions between the two protein splicing partners. In the presence of either the bI4 maturase or the Leu-tRNA synthetase, bI4 intron transcribed recombinantly with flanking exons in the yeast nucleus exhibited splicing activity. These data combined with previous genetic results are consistent with a novel model for a ternary splicing complex (two protein: one RNA) in which both protein splicing partners bind directly to the bI4 intron and facilitate its self-splicing activity.

Base Sequence↗

hnRNP A1 controls HIV-1 mRNA splicing through cooperative binding to intron and exon splicing silencers in the context of a conserved secondary structure.

The removal of the second intron in the HIV-1 rev/tat pre-mRNAs, which involves the joining of splice site SD4 to SA7, is inhibited by hnRNP A1 by a mechanism that requires the intronic splicing silencer (ISS) and the exon splicing silencer (ESS3). In this study, we have determined the RNA secondary structure and the hnRNP A1 binding sites within the 3' splice site region by phylogenetic comparison and chemical/enzymatic probing. A biochemical characterization of the RNA/protein complexes demonstrates that hnRNP A1 binds specifically to primarily three sites, the ISS, a novel UAG motif in the exon splicing enhancer (ESE) and the ESS3 element, which are all situated in experimentally supported stem loop structures. A mutational analysis of the ISS region revealed that the core hnRNP A1 binding site directly overlaps with a major branchpoint used in splicing to SA7, thereby providing a direct explanation for the inhibition of U2 snRNP association with the pre-mRNA by hnRNP A1. Binding of hnRNP A1 to the ISS core site is inhibited by RNA structure but strongly stimulated by the exonic silencer, ESS3. Moreover, the ISS also stimulate binding of hnRNP A1 to the exonic splicing regulators ESS3 and the ESE. Our results suggest a model where a network is formed between hnRNP A1 molecules situated at discrete sites in the intron and exon and that these interactions preclude the recognition of essential splicing signals including the branch point.

Base Sequence↗

Involvement of Neurospora mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase in RNA splicing. A new method for purifying the protein and characterization of physical and enzymatic properties pertinent to splicing.

The Neurospora CYT-18 protein, the mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, functions in the splicing of group I introns. Here, bacterially expressed CYT-18 protein, purified by a new procedure involving polyethyleneimine precipitation to remove tightly bound nucleic acids, was used to characterize properties pertinent to RNA splicing. Analytical ultracentrifugation and other methods showed that the CYT-18 protein is an asymmetric homodimer. The measured frictional ratio, f/fo = 1.55, corresponds to an axial ratio of 10 for a prolate ellipsoid or 12 for an oblate ellipsoid. Like bacterial TyrRSs, the CYT-18 protein exhibits half-sites reactivity, each homodimer having one active site for tyrosyl adenylation and RNA splicing. The splicing activity of CYT-18 was unaffected by aminoacylation substrates at concentrations used in aminoacylation reactions, whereas the TyrRS activity was inhibited by physiological concentrations of the splicing cofactor GTP, as well as CTP or UTP, or by low concentrations of a group I intron RNA. Kinetic measurements suggest that the binding of CYT-18 to a group I intron substrate is a two-step process, with an initial biomolecular step that is close to diffusion limited (3.24 +/- 0.03 x 10(7) M-1s-1) followed by a slower conformational change (0.54 +/- 0.07 s-1). After CYT-18 binding, splicing occurs at a rate of 0.0025 s-1, within 6-fold of the rate of self-splicing of the Tetrahymena large rRNA intron in vitro. The Kd for the complex between the CYT-18 protein and a group I intron substrate, calculated from koff/kon, was < 0.3 pM, substantially lower than determined by presumed equilibrium measurements [Guo, Q., & Lambowitz, A. M. (1992) Genes Dev. 6, 1357-1372]. As a result of this tight binding, the CYT-18 protein functions stoichiometrically in in vitro splicing reactions due to its extremely slow dissociation from the excised intron RNA. The very tight binding of the CYT-18 protein to the intron RNA raises the possibility that specific mechanisms exist for dissociating the protein from the excised intron in vivo.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Mechanism of recognition of the 5' splice site in self-splicing group I introns.

Group I introns include many mitochondrial ribosomal RNA and messenger RNA introns and the nuclear rRNA introns of Tetrahymena and Physarum. The splicing of precursor RNAs containing these introns is a two-step reaction. Cleavage at the 5' splice site precedes cleavage at the 3' splice site, the latter cleavage being coupled with exon ligation. Following the first cleavage, the 5' exon must somehow be held in place for ligation. We have now tested the reactivity of two self-splicing group I RNAs, the Tetrahymena pre-rRNA and the intron 1 portion of the Neurospora mitochondrial cytochrome b (cob) pre-mRNA, in the intermolecular exon ligation reaction (splicing in trans) described by Inoue et al. The different sequence specificity of the reactions supports the idea that the nucleotides immediately upstream from the 5' splice site are base-paired to an internal, 5' exon-binding site, in agreement with RNA structure models proposed by Davies and co-workers and others. The internal binding site is proposed to be involved in the formation of a structure that specifies the 5' splice site and, following the first step of splicing, to hold the 5' exon in place for exon ligation.

Animals↗

Stop codons affect 5' splice site selection by surveillance of splicing.

Pre-mRNA splicing involves recognition of a consensus sequence at the 5' splice site (SS). However, only some of the many potential sites that conform to the consensus are true ones, whereas the majority remain silent and are not normally used for splicing. We noticed that in most cases the utilization of such a latent intronic 5' SS for splicing would introduce an in-frame stop codon into the resultant mRNA. This finding suggested a link between SS selection and maintenance of an ORF within the mRNA. Here we tested this idea by analyzing the splicing of pre-mRNAs in which in-frame stop codons upstream of a latent 5' SS were mutated. We found that splicing with the latent site is indeed activated by such mutations. Our findings predict the existence of a checking mechanism, as a component of the nuclear pre-mRNA splicing machine, to ensure the maintenance of an ORF. This notion is highly important for accurate gene expression, as perturbations that would lead to splicing at these latent sites are expected to introduce in-frame stop codons into the majority of mRNAs.

Alternative Splicing↗

Functional analyses of positions across the 5' splice site of the trypanosomatid spliced leader RNA. Implications for base-pair interaction with U5 and U6 snRNAs.

In this study, we have used a genetic compensatory approach to examine the functional significance of the previously proposed interaction of spliced leader (SL) RNA with U5 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) (Dungan, J. D., Watkins, K. P., and Agabian, N. (1996) EMBO J. 15, 4016-4029; Xu, Y.-X., Ben Shlomo, H., and Michaeli, S. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 94, 8473-8478) and the interaction of the SL RNA intron with U6 snRNA analogous to cis-splicing. Mutations were introduced at positions -4, -1, +1, +4, +5, and +7/+8 relative to the SL RNA 5' splice site that were proposed to interact with U5 and U6 snRNAs. All mutants exhibited altered splicing phenotypes compared with the parental strain, showing the importance of these intron and exon positions for trans-splicing. Surprisingly, mutation at invariant +1 position did not abolish splicing completely, unlike cis-splicing, but position +2 had the most severe effect on trans-splicing. Compensatory mutations were introduced in U5 and U6 snRNAs to examine whether the defects resulted from failure to interact with these snRNAs by base pairing. Suppression was observed only for positions +5 and +7/+8 with U5 compensatory mutations and for position +5 with a U6 compensatory mutation, supporting the existence of a base pair interaction of U5 and U6 with the SL RNA intron region. The failure to suppress the other SL RNA mutants by the U5 compensatory mutations suggests that another factor(s) interacts with these key SL RNA positions.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Alternative splicing of intron 3 of the serine/arginine-rich protein 9G8 gene. Identification of flanking exonic splicing enhancers and involvement of 9G8 as a trans-acting factor.

9G8 protein belongs to the conserved serine/arginine-rich (SR) protein family, whose members exhibit multiple functions in constitutive and alternative splicing. We have previously shown that 9G8 primary transcripts are subjected to alternative splicing by excision/retention of intron 3 and to a tissue specific modulation. Because both 5'- and 3'-splice sites of intron 3 appear to be suboptimal in vertebrates, we tested the 9G8 intron 3 as a novel model system of alternative splicing. By using an in vitro approach and a mutational analysis, we have identified two purine-rich exonic splicing enhancers (ESE) located in exon 4 and a (GAA)(3) enhancer located in exon 3. These elements act in concert to promote efficient splicing activation both in vitro and in vivo. Titration experiments with an excess of exonic enhancers or SR-specific RNA targets strongly suggest that SR proteins are specifically involved in the activation process. Although ASF/SF2 was expected to interact the most efficiently with ESE according to the enhancer sequences, UV cross-linking coupled or not to immunopurification demonstrates that 9G8 is highly recruited by the three ESE, followed by SC35. In contrast, ASF/SF2 only binds significantly to the (GAA)(3) motif. S100 complementation experiments with individual SR proteins demonstrate that only 9G8 is able to fully restore splicing of intron 3. These results, and the fact that the exon 3 and 4 ESE sequences are conserved in vertebrates, strongly suggest that the alternative splicing of intron 3 represents an important step in the regulation of the expression of 9G8.

Alternative Splicing↗

Congenital end-plate acetylcholinesterase deficiency caused by a nonsense mutation and an A-->G splice-donor-site mutation at position +3 of the collagenlike-tail-subunit gene (COLQ): how does G at position +3 result in aberrant splicing?

Congenital end-plate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) deficiency (CEAD), the cause of a disabling myasthenic syndrome, arises from defects in the COLQ gene, which encodes the AChE triple-helical collagenlike-tail subunit that anchors catalytic subunits of AChE to the synaptic basal lamina. Here we describe a patient with CEAD with a nonsense mutation (R315X) and a splice-donor-site mutation at position +3 of intron 16 (IVS16+3A-->G) of COLQ. Because both A and G are consensus nucleotides at the +3 position of splice-donor sites, we constructed a minigene that spans exons 15-17 and harbors IVS16+3A-->G for expression in COS cells. We found that the mutation causes skipping of exon 16. The mutant splice-donor site of intron 16 harbors five discordant nucleotides (at -3, -2, +3, +4, and +6) that do not base-pair with U1 small-nuclear RNA (snRNA), the molecule responsible for splice-donor-site recognition. Versions of the minigene harboring, at either +4 or +6, nucleotides complementary to U1 snRNA restore normal splicing. Analysis of 1,801 native splice-donor sites reveals that presence of a G nucleotide at +3 is associated with preferential usage, at positions +4 to +6, of nucleotides concordant to U1 snRNA. Analysis of 11 disease-associated IVS+3A-->G mutations indicates that, on average, two of three nucleotides at positions +4 to +6 fail to base-pair, and that the nucleotide at +4 never base-pairs, with U1 snRNA. We conclude that, with G at +3, normal splicing generally depends on the concordance that residues at +4 to +6 have with U1 snRNA, but other cis-acting elements may also be important in assuring the fidelity of splicing.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Conserved use of a non-canonical 5' splice site (/GA) in alternative splicing by fibroblast growth factor receptors 1, 2 and 3.

The two classes of sequences for recognition and splicing of pre-mRNA in eukaryotes, GT-AG and AT-AC, are characterized by the nearly invariant dinucleotides present at the extreme 5' (donor) and 3' (acceptor) ends of the intron. Amongst GT-AG introns, which comprise the vast majority, the more extended consensus sequence at the 5' splice site isACAG/GTAGAGT (where / indicates the exon-intron boundary). This sequence is complementary to part of the U1 snRNA and is important in intron recognition. We have determined the genomic structure of the mouse fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene (Fgfr2) and identified a divergent 5' splice site (ACA/GAAAGT), conserved in FGFR1 , - 2 and - 3 from humans, mice and Xenopus that is used for alternative splicing of a hexanucleotide sequence, encoding Val-Thr, at the end of exon 10. This is the only example known of the use of /GA in vertebrate splicing. Similarities to a splice site in the Antennapedia gene of Drosophila suggest that this variant motif is involved in alternative splicing of short sequences at the 5' splice site. Inclusion or exclusion of the Val-Thr dipeptide may play an important role in controlling FGFR signalling through the Ras/MAPK pathway.

Alternative Splicing↗

Identification of a splicing enhancer in MLH1 using COMPARE, a new assay for determination of relative RNA splicing efficiencies.

Exonic splicing enhancers (ESEs) are sequences that facilitate recognition of splice sites and prevent exon-skipping. Because ESEs are often embedded within protein-coding sequences, alterations in them can also often be interpreted as nonsense, missense or silent mutations. To correctly interpret exonic mutations and their roles in diseases, it is important to develop strategies that identify ESE mutations. Potential ESEs can be found computationally in many exons but it has proven difficult to predict whether a given mutation will have effects on splicing based on sequence alone. Here, we describe a flexible in vitro method that can be used to functionally compare the effects of multiple sequence variants on ESE activity in a single in vitro splicing reaction. We have applied this method in parallel with conventional splicing assays to test for a splicing enhancer in exon 17 of the human MLH1 gene. Point mutations associated with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) have previously been found to correlate with exon-skipping in both lymphocytes and tumors from patients. We show that sequences from this exon can replace an ESE from the mouse IgM gene to support RNA splicing in HeLa nuclear extracts. ESE activity was reduced by HNPCC point mutations in codon 659, indicating that their primary effect is on splicing. Surprisingly, the strongest enhancer function mapped to a different region of the exon upstream of this codon. Together, our results indicate that HNPCC point mutations in codon 659 affect an auxillary element that augments the enhancer function to ensure exon inclusion.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Exon sequences distant from the splice junction are required for efficient self-splicing of the Tetrahymena IVS.

The presence of a natural rRNA secondary structure element immediately preceding the 5' splice site of the Tetrahymena IVS can inhibit self-splicing by competing with base pairing between the 5' exon and the guide sequence of the IVS (P1). Formation of this alternative hairpin is preferred in short precursor RNAs, and results in loss of G-addition to the 5' splice site. Pre-rRNAs which contain longer exons of ribosomal sequence, however, splice rapidly. As many as 146 nucleotides of the 5' exon and 86 nucleotides of the 3' exon are required for efficient self-splicing of Tetrahymena precursors. The presence of nucleotides distant from the 5' splice site apparently alters the equilibrium between the alternative hairpins, and promotes formation of active precursors. This effect is dependent on the specific sequences of the ribosomal pre-RNA, since point mutations within this region reduce the rate of splicing as much as 50-fold. This system provides an opportunity to study the way in which long-range interactions can influence splice site selection in a highly structured RNA.

Animals↗

Modulated splicing-associated gene expression in P19 cells expressing distinct acetylcholinesterase splice variants.

Alternative splicing configurations and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene expression are both modified in neurons under stress. However, it is unclear if these phenomena are functionally interrelated. Using a home-made spotted microarray focused on splicing-associated transcripts, we tested the effects of excess 3' splice variants of human AChE on splicing-related gene expression in semi-differentiated neuronal P19 cells. Of the tested transcripts, 17.3% and 20.2% showed modified expression levels (log2 of the ratio<-0.3 or>0.3) in transfected P19 cells overexpressing the stress-inducible AChE-R variant or the synaptic AChE-S protein, respectively. Multiple transcripts encoding serine-arginine rich (SR) and SR-related splicing regulators were suppressed in cells expressing either of these variants, whereas the gene groups including splicing-related helicases and transcripts involved in apoptosis displayed variant-specific changes. Our findings are compatible with the assumption that both neuronal overexpression and alternative splicing of pre-AChE mRNA may be causally involved in initiating global changes in neuronal alternative splicing, causing subsequent modifications in the expression patterns of numerous target genes.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Enhanced splicing of nonconsensus 3' splice sites late during adenovirus infection.

The adenovirus major late transcription unit is an example of an alternatively spliced gene, in which a common 5' splice site can be spliced to more than 15 different 3' splice sites. Here we show that the specificity in 3' splice site recognition changes during virus infection, such that 3' splice sites with long consensus-type polypyrimidine tracts are repressed while 3' splice sites with short atypical polypyrimidine tracts, which bind U2AF65K inefficiently, are enhanced in splicing in late virus-infected nuclear extracts. On the basis of these experiments, we discuss a mechanism that helps to explain how the complex pattern of major late mRNAs is produced late during virus infection.

Adenoviridae↗

Selective inhibition of splicing at the avian sarcoma virus src 3' splice site by direct-repeat posttranscriptional cis elements.

The direct-repeat elements (dr1) of avian sarcoma virus (ASV) and leukosis virus have the properties of constitutive transport elements (CTEs), which facilitate cytoplasmic accumulation of unspliced RNA. It is thought that these elements represent binding sites for cellular factors. Previous studies have indicated that in the context of the avian sarcoma virus genome, precise deletion of both ASV dr1 elements results in a very low level of virus replication. This is characterized by a decreased cytoplasmic accumulation of unspliced RNA and a selective increase in spliced src mRNA. Deletion of either the upstream or downstream dr1 results in a delayed-replication phenotype. To determine if the same regions of the dr1 mediate inhibition of src splicing and unspliced RNA transport, point mutations in the upstream and downstream elements were studied. In the context of viral genomes with single dr1 elements, the effects of the mutations on virus replication and increases in src splicing closely paralleled the effects of the mutations on CTE activity. For mutants strongly affecting CTE activity and splicing, unspliced RNA but not spliced RNA turned over in the nucleus more rapidly than wild-type RNA. In the context of wild-type virus containing two dr1 elements, mutations of either element that strongly affect CTE activity caused a marked delay of virus replication and a selective increase in src splicing. However, the turnover of the mutant unspliced RNA as well as the spliced mRNA species did not differ significantly from that of the wild type. These results suggest the dr1 elements in ASV act to selectively inhibit src splicing and that both elements contribute to the fitness of the wild-type virus. However, a single dr1 element is sufficient to stabilize unspliced RNA.

Animals↗