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The spastic mouse: aberrant splicing of glycine receptor beta subunit mRNA caused by intronic insertion of L1 element.

Mice homozygous for the spastic mutation (spa) suffer from a complex motor disorder resulting from reduced CNS levels of the adult glycine receptor isoform GlyRA, which is composed of ligand-binding alpha 1 and structural beta polypeptides. The beta subunit-encoding gene (Glyrb) was mapped near the spa locus on mouse chromosome 3. In spa/spa mice, aberrant splicing of the beta subunit pre-mRNA strikingly diminishes the CNS contents of full-length transcripts, whereas truncated beta subunit mRNAs accumulate. This is a result of exon skipping, which causes translational frameshifts and premature stop codons. Intron 5 of the spa Glyrb gene contains an L1 transposable element that apparently is causal for the aberrant splicing of beta subunit transcripts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Three aberrant splicing variants of the HMGIC gene transcribed in uterine leiomyomas.

Cytogenetic aberrations involving chromosome region 12q13-15 occur frequently among benign mesenchymal tumors in humans, e.g., pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland, pulmonary chondroid hamartomas, lipomas, or uterine leiomyomas. HMGIC, a gene encoding a protein of the high-mobility group, has been identified as a target of those events. Using the 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique, we identified six different fusion transcripts of the HMGIC gene among 13 uterine leiomyomas; three of these variants had not been described before. Radiation-hybrid mapping located all three of the novel fusion transcripts in the same chromosomal region as the HMGIC gene. Cloning of the entire HMGIC gene in a genomic contig of P1-derived artificial chromosomes and cosmids revealed that the 3' portion of each novel fusion transcript contained cryptic exonic sequences (designated a, b, and c) present in intron 3 of the HMGIC gene. Thus, aberrant alternative splicing was responsible for abnormal HMGIC isoforms in those myomas. Identification of these novel variants suggested that aberrant splicing can join chromosomal translocation and inversion as a mechanism for producing abnormal HMGIC transcripts, and that separation of the DNA binding domains of HMGIC from its acidic carboxyl-terminal regulatory domain can lead to development of benign mesenchymal tumors.

Alternative Splicing↗

Two aberrant splicings caused by mutations in the insulin receptor gene in cultured lymphocytes from a patient with Rabson-Mendenhall's syndrome.

Rabson-Mendenhall's syndrome is one of the most severe forms of insulin resistance syndrome. We analyzed an English patient described elsewhere and found novel mutations in both alleles of the insulin receptor gene. One is a substitution of G for A at the 3' splice acceptor site of intron 4, and the other is an eight-base pair deletion in exon 12. Both decrease mRNA expression in a cis-dominant manner, and are predicted to produce severely truncated proteins. Surprisingly, nearly normal insulin receptor levels were expressed in the patient's lymphocytes, although the level of expression assessed by immunoblot was approximately 10% of the control cells. Insulin binding affinity was markedly reduced, but insulin-dependent tyrosine kinase activity was present. Analyzing the insulin receptor mRNA of the patient's lymphocytes by reverse transcription PCR, we discovered aberrant splicing caused by activation of a cryptic splice site in exon 5, resulting in a four-amino acid deletion and one amino acid substitution, but restoring an open reading frame. Skipped exon 5, another aberrant splicing, was found in both the patient and the mother who had the heterozygotic mutation, whereas activation of the cryptic splice site occurred almost exclusively in the patient. Transfectional analysis in COS cells revealed that the mutant receptor produced by cryptic site activation has the same characteristics as those expressed in patient's lymphocytes. We speculate that this mutant receptor may be involved in the relatively long survival of the patient by rescuing otherwise more severe phenotypes resulting from the complete lack of functional insulin receptors.

Alleles↗

Dual Aberrant Splicing Caused by an Apparently Missense CHD7 Variant, c.5273A>G (p.Asp1758Gly), in CHARGE Syndrome.

CHARGE syndrome is a rare congenital disorder primarily attributed to heterozygous pathogenic variants of the CHD7 gene. Most pathogenic CHD7 variants are loss-of-function (LoF) variants, whereas the interpretation of missense variants remains challenging in the absence of functional evidence for their pathogenicity. We report a female infant presenting with clinical features characteristic of CHARGE syndrome. Targeted sequencing identified a heterozygous CHD7 variant (NM_017780.4:c.5273A>G), initially annotated as a missense substitution p.Asp1758Gly. This variant has been previously reported and registered with conflicting pathogenicity classifications; however, its transcript-level consequences remain unclear. Long-PCR-based RNA sequencing of total RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed two aberrant splicing patterns associated with the variant: a predominant transcript carrying a 28-bp deletion due to cryptic donor splice-site activation, and a minor transcript with partial intron 24 retention. Both transcripts were predicted to result in premature termination codons. These findings demonstrate that c.5273A>G functions as a LoF variant through dual aberrant splicing rather than a simple missense substitution. This case underscores the importance of RNA-level splicing analysis for the accurate interpretation and classification of CHD7 missense variants.

CHD7↗

Mechanism for elimination of a tumor suppressor: aberrant splicing of a brain-specific exon causes loss of function of Bin1 in melanoma.

Loss of tumor suppressors that restrain important oncoproteins such as c-Myc may contribute to malignant progression. Bin1 is an adapter protein with features of a tumor suppressor that was identified through its interaction with and inhibition of the oncogenic properties of c-Myc. In this study, we analyzed the patterns of Bin1 expression in normal melanocytes and melanoma cells at different stages of tumor progression. Evidence is provided that Bin1 function is abrogated in melanoma cells by a mechanism based on aberrant splicing of a tissue-specific exon. Specifically, most melanoma cells inappropriately expressed exon 12A, which is spliced alternately into Bin1 isoforms found in brain but not into isoforms found in melanocytes and many other nonneuronal cells. Exon 12A sequences abolished the ability of Bin1 to inhibit malignant transformation by c-Myc or adenovirus E1A. Similarly, these sequences abolished the ability of Bin1 to induce programmed cell death in melanoma cells that endogenously expressed exon 12A. Our findings suggest that aberrant splicing of Bin1 may contribute to melanoma progression, and they define a mechanism by which the activity of a tumor suppressor can be eliminated in cells.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Aberrant splicing of Gs alpha transcript in transformed human astroglial and glioblastoma cell lines.

Alpha subunits of G proteins, which play a vital role in signal transduction, display considerable structural and functional diversity. Point mutations in two forms of alpha subunits, Gs alpha and Gi2 alpha, impairing their GTPase activity, have been detected in endocrine disorders. We report here the presence of truncated Gs alpha transcripts in a human glioblastoma cell line, HS683, and in an SV40-transformed human astroglial cell line, SVG. These transcripts were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of cDNAs from the cell lines. The truncated Gs alpha transcripts, with deletions in the central region of the molecule, seem to have originated due to aberrant splicing within exonic sequences, which did not conform to the consensus GT/AG splice signals. The presence of a smaller size protein of mol.wt. around 25,000 kd in the SVG and HS683 cell lines, detected by antibodies specific for the C-terminal region of the Gs alpha subunit, seems to be consistent with the presence of truncated Gs alpha transcripts in these cell lines. These aberrantly spliced transcripts, if translated, could synthesize potentially oncogenic Gs alpha subunits deficient in GTPase activity. Whether such molecules, with sometimes relatively large deletions, retain some aspects of their function and are biologically significant remains to be seen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

EGCG corrects aberrant splicing of IKAP mRNA in cells from patients with familial dysautonomia.

Familial dysautonomia (FD) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder. The most prevalent causative mutation is a T-->C transition in a donor splice site of the IKBKAP transcript, resulting in aberrant splicing and a truncated protein. The mutation's position and leaky nature suggested that its impact might be moderated by altering the level of splice-regulating proteins. The reported ability of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol, to down-regulate the expression of hnRNP A2/B1, a trans-activating factor that encourages the use of intron-distal 5(') splice sites, prompted an evaluation of its effect on the IKBKAP transcript in FD-derived cells. EGCG reduces the level of hnRNP A2/B1 and increases the amounts of the wild-type IKBKAP-encoded transcript and functional protein. Combined treatment of cells with EGCG and tocotrienol, which upregulates IKBKAP transcription, results in a synergistic production of the functional gene product. These findings suggest the possible use of EGCG as a therapeutic modality for individuals with FD.

Base Sequence↗

Aberrant splicing of the CHM gene is a significant cause of choroideremia.

Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked progressive degeneration of the choroid and retina. 12% of unrelated male patients carry deletions of the partially cloned CHM gene. In Finland, there are more than 120 living CHM patients belonging to eight apparently unrelated pedigrees. Molecular deletions involving the CHM gene have been detected in three families. We have screened the remaining five families for point mutations. In one large family a single nucleotide (T) insertion into the donor splice site of exon C leads to two aberrantly spliced mRNAs both producing a premature stop codon. The mutation can be assayed easily by amplification and digestion with Msel. Our findings provide additional evidence for the pathogenetic role of CHM mutations and provide a diagnostic tool for one fifth of the world's known CHM patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

p53 intronic point mutation, aberrant splicing and telomeric associations in a case of B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

We report a case of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) with telomeric associations and a p53 intronic point mutation. Karyotypic analysis revealed clonal and non-clonal telomeric associations, accompanied by clonal cytogenetic abnormalities and also in isolation. The p53 mutation, which occurred at the invariant base pair -2 of the splice acceptor site in intron 7 resulted in the abolition of correct splicing of exon 7 to exon 8. Multiple aberrant splice products were characterized, all of which differed from wildtype in the DNA binding domain. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated that the clone retained two copies of the p53 gene and wild-type p53 transcript was detected on cloning of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) product, indicating that one wild-type allele remained. However, a plasmid clone with correct splicing at the exon 7/8 boundary, but with a 21 bp deletion in exon 8, was also found at low frequency. This finding indicates clonal evolution, resulting in complete loss of wild-type p53. The intronic point mutation was not present in DNA extracted from cervical tissue indicating that it was a leukaemic phenomenon. This is the first case of an intronic point mutation to be reported in CLL. This mutation led to chaotic p53 expression and, interestingly, occurred in a case showing telomeric associations, a rare phenomenon in B-CLL.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Aberrant splicing of cyclin-dependent kinase-associated protein phosphatase KAP increases proliferation and migration in glioblastoma.

The cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)-associated protein phosphatase KAP is a dual-specificity phosphatase of which the only known function is to dephosphorylate Cdk2 and inhibit cell cycle progression. Paradoxically, we find increased KAP mRNA expression in malignant astrocytomas, which correlates with increasing histologic grade and decreased patient survival. We have resolved this apparent paradox with the discovery of aberrant KAP splicing in malignant astrocytomas that leads to increased expression of KAP-related transcripts but decreased KAP protein expression. In addition, the aberrant splicing generates a dominant negative KAP variant that increases proliferation. We provide the first evidence that KAP not only regulates proliferation but also inhibits migration by decreasing cdc2 mRNA and protein expression. The effect of KAP on cdc2 expression requires its phosphatase activity but does not involve direct dephosphorylation of cdc2. Thus, KAP regulates both cdc2-dependent migration and Cdk2-dependent proliferation, and its loss due to aberrant splicing increases malignancy in human gliomas.

Alternative Splicing↗

Occurrence of multiple aberrantly spliced mRNAs of the LDL-receptor gene upon a donor splice site mutation that causes familial hypercholesterolemia (FHBenevento).

A novel point mutation of the LDL-receptor gene was found in an Italian patient with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The SSCP analysis of the promoter and of 16 out of the 18 exons of the LDL-receptor gene was negative, suggesting that the mutation might be located in the region of the gene encompassing exons 14 and 15, a region that had not been amenable to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification from genomic DNA. This region was amplified from cDNA by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). RT-PCR of proband cDNA generated three fragments of 800, 600, and 550 bp, respectively, as opposed to a single 720 bp fragment obtained from control cDNA. The sequence of these fragments showed that: i) in the 800-bp fragment exon 14 continued with the 5' end of intron 15 (90 nucleotides), which in turn was followed by exon 16; ii) in the 600-bp fragment exon 14 was followed by the 5' end of exon 15 (50 nucleotides), which continued with exon 16; iii) in the 550-bp fragment exon 14 joined directly to exon 16. These abnormally spliced mRNAs resulted from a G-->A transition at the +1 nucleotide of intron 15, which changed the invariant GT dinucleotide of the 5' donor splice site. That was associated with the activation of two cryptic donor splice sites in intron 15 and exon 15, respectively, and the use of an alternative splicing leading to the skipping of exon 15. Northern blot analysis showed that the overall content of these aberrantly spliced mRNAs in proband fibroblasts was one-fourth that found in control cells. These abnormally spliced mRNAs are predicted to encode three abnormal receptor proteins: the first would contain an insertion of 30 novel amino acids; the second would be a truncated protein of 709 amino acids; the third would be devoid of the 57 amino acids of the O-linked sugar domain. Ligand blot experiments indicated that the amount of LDL-receptor present in proband's fibroblasts was approximately one-tenth that found in control cells.

Base Sequence↗

Aberrant splicing of phenylalanine hydroxylase mRNA: the major cause for phenylketonuria in parts of southern Europe.

We report a mutation within the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene that causes aberrant splicing of the mRNA and that is in tight association with chromosomal haplotypes 6, 10, and 36. Because of the high frequency of these particular haplotypes in Bulgaria, Italy, and Turkey, it appears to be one of the more frequent defects in the PAH gene causing classical phenylketonuria in this part of Europe. The mutation is a G to A transition at position 546 in intron 10 of the PAH gene, 11 bp upstream from the intron 10/exon 11 boundary. It activates a cryptic splice site and results in an in-frame insertion of 9 nucleotides between exon 10 and exon 11 of the processed mRNA. Normal amounts of liver PAH protein are present in homozygous patients, but no catalytic activity can be detected. This loss of enzyme activity is probably caused by conformational changes resulting from the insertion of three additional amino acids (Gly-Leu-Gln) between the normal sequences encoded by exon 10 and exon 11.

Base Sequence↗

Identification of two new aberrant splicings in the ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) gene in two patients with early and late onset OCT deficiency.

Ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) is a liver-specific enzyme located in the mitochondrial matrix. OCT deficiency is an X-linked disease with a heterogeneous phenotype, even in affected males. We studied two male patients (K.M., K.G.) with early and late onset, respectively. OCT activity was zero in the autopsied liver of patient K.M. and was 6% of control in the biopsied liver of K.G. Sequencing of OCT cDNAs revealed exon 5 skipping in K.M., resulting from a T-to-C transition of the initial dinucleotide of the 5' splicing donor site of intron 5, and a G-to-T transversion at position +45 in exon 9 (L304F) in K.G., providing three OCT mRNAs of different lengths: a normally spliced transcript, 23 bp insertion of intron 8 and the first 50bp missing within exon 9. Exon 5 skipping and two other aberrant splicings produced stop codons early downstream in mature OCT mRNAs. Expression study of a missense allele, L304F, transfected to cultured Cos 1 cells revealed a 34.4% value of the control. The difference of OCT activities between the patient liver and transfected cells (6% vs. 34%) can be explained by this splicing abnormality.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Impairment of double-strand breaks repair and aberrant splicing of ATM and MRE11 in leukemia-lymphoma cell lines with microsatellite instability.

Mutations of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) repair genes, ATM, MRE11, RAD50, NBS1 and ATR, are postulated to play a role in the development of gastrointestinal malignancies with an impaired mismatch repair (MMR) function. In the present study, mutations of these genes together with the presence of microsatellite instability (MSI) were examined in 50 leukemia-lymphoma cell lines. MSI was detected in 13 (26%) lines. Mutations of intronic mononucleotide repeats in ATM and MRE11 were found in nine and six lines, respectively, whereas mutations of mononucleotide repeats of RAD50 were found in only one line, and none were found in either NBS1 or ATR. Frequencies of ATM and MRE11 mutations were significantly higher in MSI-positive than MSI-negative lines. These mutations generated aberrant splicing in both genes. The intensity of the aberrant transcript of ATM (497del22) was stronger in five lines harboring mononucleotide mutations of 2 bp or more than in the lines without or with a 1-bp mutation. The intensity of the aberrant transcript of MRE11 (315del88) was stronger in four lines with mononucleotide mutations than in lines without. The expression levels of ATM and MRE11 transcripts in MSI-positive lines were significantly higher than those in MSI-negative lines. MSI-positive cell lines showed delay or abrogation of DSB repair. The present study suggests that impairment of the MMR system causes aberrant transcripts in the DSB repair genes ATM and MRE11. This might result in inactivation of the DSB repair system, thus inducing an acceleration of genome instability and accumulation of genetic damage.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

The Mu1 maize transposable element induces tissue-specific aberrant splicing and polyadenylation in two Adh1 mutants.

Insertions of the maize transposable element Robertson's Mutator (Mu) into intron 1 of the Adh1 gene have produced a number of mutant alleles altered in quantitative expression. It has previously been shown that transcription and mRNA accumulation are reduced for two of these alleles, Adh1-S3034 and Adh1-S4477. In this report, we describe the presence of Mu1-hybridizing polyadenylated transcripts in roots of anaerobically induced seedlings of these same mutants. Sequence analysis of Mu1-hybridizing clones from a cDNA library of S3034 RNA indicated that these transcripts originated from the Adh1 locus and were produced by alternative processing of S3034 pre-mRNA. Approximately half of the cDNAs represented transcripts that had not undergone excision of the intron containing the 1.4-kilobase Mu1 insertion but were processed in response to signals present in the transposable element. Mu1 contains a donor splice site in the 5'-terminal inverted repeat that can be joined to the Adh1 exon 2 acceptor, resulting in removal of most of the Mu1 sequences from the pre-mRNA; alternatively this donor can be spliced to an acceptor within Mu1, removing an 89-nucleotide intron. Mu1 also contains polyadenylation signals that are used to produce truncated transcripts. These Mu1 transcripts produced by aberrant splicing and polyadenylation were not detected in RNA isolated from developing kernels.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

The SR protein SC35 is responsible for aberrant splicing of the E1alpha pyruvate dehydrogenase mRNA in a case of mental retardation with lactic acidosis.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex deficiency is a major cause of lactic acidosis and Leigh's encephalomyelopathies in infancy and childhood, resulting in early death in the majority of patients. Most of the molecular defects have been localized in the coding regions of the E1alpha PDH gene. Recently, we identified a novel mutation of the E1alpha PDH gene in a patient with an encephalopathy and lactic acidosis. This mutation, located downstream of exon 7, activates a cryptic splice donor and leads to the retention of intronic sequences. Here, we demonstrate that the mutation results in an increased binding of the SR protein SC35. Consistently, ectopic overexpression of this splicing factor enhanced the use of the cryptic splice site, whereas small interfering RNA-mediated reduction of the SC35 protein levels in primary fibroblasts from the patient resulted in the almost complete disappearance of the aberrantly spliced E1alpha PDH mRNA. Our findings open the exciting prospect for a novel therapy of an inherited disease by altering the level of a specific splicing factor.

Acidosis, Lactic↗

Expression of alternatively and aberrantly spliced transcripts of the MDM2 mRNA is not tumor-specific.

The MDM2 proto-oncogene encodes a 90-kDa protein that binds to and inactivates the tumor suppressor p53. Several reports describe the presence of different alternatively, as well as, aberrantly spliced transcripts of the MDM2 mRNA in a variety of human cancers that have lost the ability to bind p53. Due to the transforming ability of at least some of the isoforms it has been suggested that they might contribute to tumorigenesis. Here we show that shorter MDM2 transcripts are also widely expressed in normal tissues, including lung and renal tissue, and in lymphocytes. Alteration in MDM2 RNA transcripts were found in the majority of the samples. Although we cannot exclude that alterations in MDM2 preferentially occur during cancer development, our data rather indicate that in this context the commonly observed transcript variants may also possess a normal physiological function.

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↗