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The role of potential splicing factors including RBMY, RBMX, hnRNPG-T and STAR proteins in spermatogenesis.

Investigations into the RBM gene family are uncovering networks of protein interactions which regulate RNA processing, and which might operate downstream of signal transduction pathways. Similar pathways likely operate in germ cells and somatic cells, with RBMY, hnRNPGT and T-STAR proteins providing germ cell-specific components. These pathways may be important for normal germ cell development, and might be compromised in men with Y chromosome deletions affecting RBMY gene expression. The STAR proteins have multiple functions in pre-mRNA splicing, signalling and cell cycle control. These processes might have to be very finely regulated during germ cell development, which involves both two sequential meiotic divisions (meiosis I and II) as well as mitotic (spermatogonial) cell divisions, and which is controlled by paracrine signalling within the testis from Sertoli cells.

Animals↗

SF2/ASF binds the human papillomavirus type 16 late RNA control element and is regulated during differentiation of virus-infected epithelial cells.

Pre-mRNA splicing occurs in the spliceosome, which is composed of small ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) and many non-snRNP components. SR proteins, so called because of their C-terminal arginine- and serine-rich domains (RS domains), are essential members of this class. Recruitment of snRNPs to 5' and 3' splice sites is mediated and promoted by SR proteins. SR proteins also bridge splicing factors across exons to help to define these units and have a central role in alternative and enhancer-dependent splicing. Here, we show that the SR protein SF2/ASF is part of a complex that forms upon the 79-nucleotide negative regulatory element (NRE) that is thought to be pivotal in posttranscriptional regulation of late gene expression in human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16). However, the NRE does not contain any active splice sites, is located in the viral late 3' untranslated region, and regulates RNA-processing events other than splicing. The level of expression and extent of phosphorylation of SF2/ASF are upregulated with epithelial differentiation, as is subcellular distribution, specifically in HPV-16-infected epithelial cells, and expression levels are controlled, at least in part, by the virus transcription regulator E2.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Degradation pathway of CopA, the antisense RNA that controls replication of plasmid R1.

RNA decay in bacteria is carried out by a number of enzymes that participate in the coordinated degradation of their substrates. Endo- and exonucleolytic cleavages as well as polyadenylation are generally involved in determining the half-life of RNAs. Small, untranslated antisense RNAs are suitable model systems to study decay. A study of the pathway of degradation of CopA, the copy number regulator RNA of plasmid R1, is reported here. Strains carrying mutations in the genes encoding RNase E, polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), RNase II and poly(A) polymerase I (PcnB/PAP I)--alone or in combination--were used to investigate degradation patterns and relative half-lives of CopA. The results obtained suggest that RNase E initiates CopA decay. Both PNPase and RNase II can degrade the major 3'-cleavage product generated by RNase E. This exonucleolytic degradation is aided by PcnB, which may imply a requirement for A-tailing. RNase II can partially protect CopA's 3'-end from PNPase-dependent degradation. Other RNases are probably involved in decay, since in rnb/pnp double mutants, decay still occurs, albeit at a reduced rate. Experiments using purified RNase E identified cleavage sites in CopA in the vicinity of, but not identical to, those mapped in vivo, suggesting that the cleavage site specificity of this RNase is modulated by additional proteins in the cell. A model of CopA decay is presented and discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Pentatricopeptide repeat protein targeting CUG repeat RNA ameliorates RNA toxicity in a myotonic dystrophy type 1 mouse model.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant multisystemic disorder caused by the expansion of a CTG-triplet repeat in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. It results in the transcription of toxic RNAs that contain expanded CUG repeats (CUGexp). Splicing factors, such as muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1), are sequestered by CUGexp, thereby disrupting the normal splicing program that is essential for various cellular functions. Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, originally found in plants, regulate RNA in organelles by binding in a sequence-specific manner. Here, we designed PPR proteins that specifically bind to the hexamer of CUG repeat RNAs (CUG-PPRs) and showed that CUG-PPR1 could ameliorate RNA toxicity induced by CUGexp in cell models of DM1. A single systemic recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV9) vector-mediated gene delivery of CUG-PPR1 demonstrated long-term therapeutic effects on myotonia and restored splicing activity in a mouse model of DM1. These results highlight the potential of PPR molecules to target pathogenic RNA sequences in DM1 and potentially other RNA-mediated disorders.

Animals↗

p53 represses RNA polymerase III transcription by targeting TBP and inhibiting promoter occupancy by TFIIIB.

The tumor suppressor p53 is a transcription factor that controls cellular growth and proliferation. p53 targets include RNA polymerase (pol) III-dependent genes encoding untranslated RNAs such as tRNA and 5S rRNA. These genes are repressed through interaction of p53 with TFIIIB, a TATA-binding protein (TBP)-containing factor. Although many studies have shown that p53 binds to TBP, the significance of this interaction has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate that the TBP-p53 interaction is of functional importance for regulating RNA pol III-transcribed genes. Unlike RNA pol II-dependent promoter repression, overexpressing TBP can reverse inhibition of tRNA gene transcription by p53. p53 does not disrupt the direct interaction between the TFIIIB subunits TBP and Brf1, but prevents the association of Brf1 complexes with TFIIIC2 and RNA pol III. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we found that TFIIIB occupancy on tRNA genes markedly decreases following p53 induction, whereas binding of TFIIIC2 to these genes is unaffected. Together our results support the idea that p53 represses RNA pol III transcription through direct interactions with TBP, preventing promoter occupancy by TFIIIB.

Animals↗

Import of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) into rat liver mitochondria stimulates transcription of mitochondrial DNA.

Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) has been shown to stimulate transcription from mitochondrial DNA promoters in vitro. In order to determine whether changes in TFAM levels also regulate RNA synthesis in situ, recombinant human precursor proteins were imported into the matrix of rat liver mitochondria. After uptake of wt-TFAM, incorporation of [alpha-32P]UTP into mitochondrial mRNAs as well as rRNAs was increased 2-fold (P < 0.05), whereas import of truncated TFAM lacking 25 amino acids at the C-terminus had no effect. Import of wt-TFAM into liver mitochondria from hypothyroid rats stimulated RNA synthesis up to 4-fold. We conclude that the rate of transcription is submaximal in freshly isolated rat liver mitochondria and that increasing intra-mitochondrial TFAM levels is sufficient for stimulation. The low transcription rate associated with the hypothyroid state observed in vivo as well as in organello seems to be a result of low TFAM levels, which can be recovered by treating animals with T3 in vivo or by importing TFAM in organello. Thus, this protein meets the criteria for being a key factor in regulating mitochondrial gene expression in vivo.

Animals↗

Regulation of alveolar type II cell differentiation and proliferation in adult rat lung explants.

Alveolar type II cells produce pulmonary surfactant and serve as the stem cell of the alveolar epithelium by proliferating and transforming into type I cells. The study of the differentiated function and proliferative capacity of type II cells in response to injury in vivo has been hindered by the complexity of the systemic response to injury. In vitro studies have in turn been limited by the impaired proliferative potential and loss of markers of differentiation in isolated type II cells maintained in culture. We describe an in vitro system in which type II cells proliferate spontaneously and simultaneously maintain differentiated characteristics. Other investigators have maintained slices of adult lung in culture after agarose infusion for up to 9 wk. To further develop this model for the study of epithelial cell differentiation and proliferation, we assessed epithelial differentiation, proliferative capacity, and regulation of cell-specific gene expression in slice explants of agarose-infused rat lungs. We prepared 1-mm-thick explants and maintained them in culture for up to 2 wk. Maintenance of differentiation was confirmed morphologically by light and electron microscopy, by the accumulation of epithelial cell-specific surfactant proteins, and by phospholipid analysis. Proliferative capacity was assessed by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation in alveolar and small airway cells at baseline and in response to growth stimuli. Type II cell proliferation was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids regulated RNA levels in explants in a manner similar to that seen in vivo and in fetal lung explants. The alveolar epithelium in adult lung slice explants maintains differentiated function and the ability to proliferate, thereby providing a useful system for the study of distal airway and alveolar cell homeostasis and response to injury.

Animals↗

Rapid identification of differentially expressed RNA transcripts in apoptotic T lymphocytes.

The mRNA differential display technique has several advantages over conventional subtractive hybridization due to its simplicity and high sensitivity. However, the relatively high incidence of 'false positive' bands makes it more difficult to identify cDNAs derived from differential display, especially when subsequent large scale screening is required to isolate specific genes of interest. In this paper, we describe a simple, fast and efficient procedure which includes two-cycle PCR based probe labeling and direct sequencing of differential display products using 5' arbitrary and 3' oligo(dT) anchored primers for the rapid identification of differential display products. As demonstrated by identification of up-regulated RNA transcripts in apoptotic T lymphocytes, we showed that this modified technique greatly simplified the original procedure for the identification of differential display products and facilitated the application of differential display technique in the isolation and characterization of differentially expressed genes.

Animals↗

The protein kinase PKR is required for p38 MAPK activation and the innate immune response to bacterial endotoxin.

Protein kinase RNA-regulated (PKR) is an established component of innate antiviral immunity. Recently, PKR has been shown to be essential for signal transduction in other situations of cellular stress. The relationship between PKR and the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), is not clear. Using embryonic fibroblasts from PKR wild-type and null mice, we established a requirement for PKR in the activation of SAPKs by double-stranded RNA, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and proinflammatory cytokines. This does not reflect a global failure to activate SAPKs in the PKR-null background as these kinases are activated normally by anisomycin and other physicochemical stress. Activation of p38 MAPK was restored in immortalized PKR-null cells by reconstitution with human PKR. We also show that LPS induction of interleukin-6 and interleukin-12 mRNA is defective in PKR-null cells, and that production of these cytokines is impaired in PKR-null mice challenged with LPS. Our findings indicate, for the first time, that PKR is required for p38 MAPK signaling and plays a potentially important role in the innate response against bacterial endotoxin.

Animals↗

A metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist regulates neurotrophin messenger RNA in rat forebrain.

We have examined the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor activation in regulating neurotrophin messenger RNA levels in the brain with the use of the selective agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocy-clopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid. Intracerebroventricular injection of (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid into adult adult rats resulted in increased expression of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA in the hippocampal and pyriform cortex and decreased levels of neurotrophin-3 messenger RNA in the hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cell layer. C-fos messenger RNA levels were also increased throughout hippocampal and cortical subfields following (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid administration. (1S,3R)-1-Aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid-induced changes in messenger RNA levels occurred without behavioral seizures, yet these changes were similar in magnitude and time course to early changes in neurotrophin and c-fos messenger RNA levels observed following recurrent limbic seizures. In contrast quisqualate, a potent agonist of metabotropic as well as ionotropic kainate/alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate receptors, was only capable of inducing increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA at doses which produced recurrent motor seizures, and both effects were completely inhibited by the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione. Neurotrophin messenger RNA changes induced by (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid were also partially susceptible to 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione antagonism, as well as the specific N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydroxy-5H-dibenzo(a,d)-cyclohepten-5,10- iminedizoleipine. These results suggest that (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid-sensitive metabotropic glutamate receptors can dramatically increase the expression of neurotrophin and c-fos messenger RNAs in rat forebrain without producing significant behavioral trauma and that these influences may involve ionotropic glutamate receptors in certain brain regions.

Animals↗

RNase/anti-RNase activities of the bacterial parD toxin-antitoxin system.

The bacterial parD toxin-antitoxin system of plasmid R1 encodes two proteins, the Kid toxin and its cognate antitoxin, Kis. Kid cleaves RNA and inhibits protein synthesis and cell growth in Escherichia coli. Here, we show that Kid promotes RNA degradation and inhibition of protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. These new activities of the Kid toxin were counteracted by the Kis antitoxin and were not displayed by the KidR85W variant, which is nontoxic in E. coli. Moreover, while Kid cleaved single- and double-stranded RNA with a preference for UAA or UAC triplets, KidR85W maintained this sequence preference but hardly cleaved double-stranded RNA. Kid was formerly shown to inhibit DNA replication of the ColE1 plasmid. Here we provide in vitro evidence that Kid cleaves the ColE1 RNA II primer, which is required for the initiation of ColE1 replication. In contrast, KidR85W did not affect the stability of RNA II, nor did it inhibit the in vitro replication of ColE1. Thus, the endoribonuclease and the cytotoxic and DNA replication-inhibitory activities of Kid seem tightly correlated. We propose that the spectrum of action of this toxin extends beyond the sole inhibition of protein synthesis to control a broad range of RNA-regulated cellular processes.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Identification of a new gene product (diphor-1) regulated by dietary phosphate.

Chronic restriction of dietary Pi elicits an increased reabsorption of Pi in the kidney proximal tubules, which involves a stimulation of apical Na-Pi cotransport. This adaptation is in part a direct cellular response of which the mechanism(s) are poorly understood. In this study, the impact of dietary Pi restriction on the differential expression of rat kidney cortex mRNAs was visualized to identify gene products regulated by the Pi status. When kidney cortex mRNAs of rats fed a low- or a high-Pi diet were compared by differential display-polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR), thirty modulated cDNA bands were observed, of which four were confirmed as being regulated. We focused on one of the upregulated bands, dietary Pi-regulated RNA-1 (diphor-1). A cDNA containing an open reading frame encoding a 52-kDa protein was cloned by library screening. Diphor-1 exhibits a high degree of identity to the Na/H exchanger regulatory factor and to a tyrosine kinase activating protein. Highest expression of diphor-1 mRNA was detected in the kidney (proximal tubules) and in small intestine. Expression experiments showed that diphor-1 specifically increases Na-Pi cotransport in oocytes of Xenopus laevis coinjected with renal type II Na-Pi contransporter cRNA. Further characterizations of diphor-1 will show whether diphor-1 is primarily or secondarily involved in the response to dietary Pi.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Phosphoproteome profiling of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling: abrogation of TGFbeta1-dependent phosphorylation of transcription factor-II-I (TFII-I) enhances cooperation of TFII-I and Smad3 in transcription.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) signaling involves activation of a number of signaling pathways, several of which are controlled by phosphorylation events. Here, we describe a phosphoproteome profiling of MCF-7 human breast epithelial cells treated with TGFbeta1. We identified 32 proteins that change their phosphorylation upon treatment with TGFbeta1; 26 of these proteins are novel targets of TGFbeta1. We show that Smad2 and Smad3 have different effects on the dynamics of TGFbeta1-induced protein phosphorylation. The identified proteins belong to nine functional groups, e.g., proteins regulating RNA processing, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and proteasomal degradation. To evaluate the proteomics findings, we explored the functional importance of TGFbeta1-dependent phosphorylation of one of the targets, i.e., transcription factor-II-I (TFII-I). We confirmed that TGFbeta1 stimulated TFII-I phosphorylation at serine residues 371 and 743. Abrogation of the phosphorylation by replacement of Ser371 and Ser743 with alanine residues resulted in enhanced complex formation between TFII-I and Smad3, and enhanced cooperation between TFII-I and Smad3 in transcriptional regulation, as evaluated by a microarray-based measurement of expression of endogenous cyclin D2, cyclin D3, and E2F2 genes, and by a luciferase reporter assay. Thus, TGFbeta1-dependent phosphorylation of TFII-I may modulate TGFbeta signaling at the transcriptional level.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Alternative splicing creates sex-specific transcripts and truncated forms of the furin protease in the parasite Dirofilaria immitis.

Many extracellular proteins are activated by specific cleavage with an endoprotease. In nematodes, several proteins are cleaved after RX(K/R)R, the recognition site for the subtilisin-like proprotein convertases, furin and blisterase. To characterize furin in the parasitic nematode Dirofilaria immitis, we determined the sequence of the difur gene and its multiple transcripts. The gene spans 11 kb; encodes 16 exons and has a complex pattern of alternative splicing which generates at least 16 distinct mRNAs. The major transcript is a 4.4 kb mRNA which codes for a protein of 834 aa with an unusually long prodomain of 254 aa. Sex-specific splice variants of difur were observed by RT-PCR. The three female-specific and five male-specific transcripts are the first reported examples of sex-specific splicing in parasitic nematodes. This suggests that nematodes have sex-specific factors which regulate RNA splicing. Other splice variants are predicted to alter the phosphorylation and localization of the protease. Alternative splicing after the prodomain encodes a truncated protein that may be an inhibitor and/or substrate of Difurin.

Alternative Splicing↗

Leaf-specifically expressed genes for polypeptides destined for chloroplasts with domains of sigma70 factors of bacterial RNA polymerases in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Genes for sigma-like factors of bacterial-type RNA polymerase have not been characterized from any multicellular eukaryotes, although they probably play a crucial role in the expression of plastid photosynthesis genes. We have cloned three distinct cDNAs, designated SIG1, SIG2, and SIG3, for polypeptides possessing amino acid sequences for domains conserved in sigma70 factors of bacterial RNA polymerases from the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Each gene is present as one copy per haploid genome without any additional sequences hybridized in the genome. Transient expression assays using green fluorescent protein demonstrated that N-terminal regions of the SIG2 and SIG3 ORFs could function as transit peptides for import into chloroplasts. Transcripts for all three SIG genes were detected in leaves but not in roots, and were induced in leaves of dark-adapted plants in rapid response to light illumination. Together with results of our previous analysis of tissue-specific regulation of transcription of plastid photosynthesis genes, these results indicate that expressed levels of the genes may influence transcription by regulating RNA polymerase activity in a green tissue-specific manner.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A hierarchy of Hu RNA binding proteins in developing and adult neurons.

The Hu proteins are a group of antigens targeted in an immune-mediated neurodegenerative disorder associated with cancer. We have cloned and characterized four members of the Hu gene family from mouse. We find that the Hu genes encode a large number of alternatively spliced transcripts to produce a series of related neuron-specific RNA binding proteins. Despite this complexity, we have discerned several ordered features of Hu expression. In the embryo, specific Hu genes are expressed in a hierarchy during early neurogenesis. In the E16 developing cortex, mHuB is induced in very early postmitotic neurons exiting the ventricular zone, mHuD is expressed in migrating neurons of the intermediate zone, and mHuC is expressed in mature cortical plate neurons. Such a hierarchy suggests distinct functional roles for each gene in developing neurons. In the adult, all neurons express some set of Hu mRNA and protein. However, specific patterns are evident such that individual neuronal types in the hippocampus, cerebellum, olfactory cortex, neocortex, and elsewhere express from one to several Hu genes. The complexity of potential protein variants within a gene family and of different Hu family members within a neuron suggests a diverse array of function. Given the strong homologies among the Hu proteins, the Drosophila neurogenic gene elav, and the Drosophila splicing factor sxl, we predict that different combinations of Hu proteins determine different neuron-specific aspects of post-transcriptional RNA regulation. Our findings of specific developmental patterns of expression and the correlation between immune targeting of the Hu proteins and adult neurodegenerative disease suggest that the Hu proteins are critical in both the proper development and function of mature neurons.

Animals↗

NC2alpha interacts with BTAF1 and stimulates its ATP-dependent association with TATA-binding protein.

Transcriptional activity of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) is controlled by a variety of proteins. The BTAF1 protein (formerly known as TAF(II)170/TAF-172 and the human ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mot1p) and the NC2 complex composed of NC2alpha (DRAP1) and NC2beta (Dr1) are able to bind to TBP directly and regulate RNA polymerase II transcription both positively and negatively. Here, we present evidence that the NC2alpha subunit interacts with BTAF1. In contrast, the NC2beta subunit is not able to associate with BTAF1 and seems to interfere with the BTAF1-TBP interaction. Addition of NC2alpha or the NC2 complex can stimulate the ability of BTAF1 to interact with TBP. This function is dependent on the presence of ATP in cell extracts but does not involve the ATPase activity of BTAF1 nor phosphorylation of NC2alpha. Together, our results constitute the first evidence of the physical cooperation between BTAF1 and NC2alpha in TBP regulation and provide a framework to understand transcription functions of NC2alpha and NC2beta in vivo.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Regulation of NMDA receptor phosphorylation by alternative splicing of the C-terminal domain.

The NMDA (N-methyl D-aspartate) receptors in the brain play a critical role in synaptic plasticity, synaptogenesis and excitotoxicity. Molecular cloning has demonstrated that NMDA receptors consist of several homologous subunits (NMDAR1, 2A-2D). A variety of studies have suggested that protein phosphorylation of NMDA receptors may regulate their function and play a role in many forms of synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation. We have examined the phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor subunit NMDAR1 (NR1) by protein kinase C (PKC) in cells transiently expressing recombinant NR1 and in primary cultures of cortical neurons. PKC phosphorylation occurs on several distinct sites on the NR1 subunit. Most of these sites are contained within a single alternatively spliced exon in the C-terminal domain, which has previously been proposed to be on the extracellular side of the membrane. These results demonstrate that alternative splicing of the NR1 messenger RNA regulates its phosphorylation by PKC, and that mRNA splicing is a novel mechanism for regulating the sensitivity of glutamate receptors to protein phosphorylation. These results also provide evidence that the C-terminal domain of the NR1 protein is located intracellularly, suggesting that the proposed transmembrane topology model for glutamate receptors may be incorrect.

Alternative Splicing↗