Selection of splice sites in pre-mRNAs with short internal exons

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 6075-6083
Author(s):  
Z Dominski ◽  
R Kole
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Polypyrimidine Tract ◽  
Splice Site Selection ◽  
Nuclear Extracts ◽  
Internal Exon

Model pre-mRNAs containing two introns and three exons, derived from the human beta-globin gene, were used to study the effects of internal exon length on splice site selection. Splicing was assayed in vitro in HeLa nuclear extracts and in vivo during transient expression in transfected HeLa cells. For substrates with internal exons 87, 104, and 171 nucleotides in length, in vitro splicing proceeded via a regular splicing pathway, in which all three exons were included in the spliced product. Primary transcripts with internal exons containing 23, 29, and 33 nucleotides were spliced by an alternative pathway, in which the first exon was joined directly to the third one. The internal exon was missing from the spliced product and together with two flanking introns was included in a large lariat structure. The same patterns of splicing were retained when transcripts containing 171-, 33-, and 29-nucleotide-long internal exons were spliced in vivo. A transcript containing a 51-nucleotide-long exon was spliced in vitro via both pathways but in vivo generated only a correctly spliced product. Skipping of short internal exons was reversed both in vitro and in vivo when purines in the upstream polypyrimidine tract were replaced by pyrimidines. The changes in the polypyrimidine tract achieved by these substitutions led in vitro to complete (transcripts containing 28 pyrimidines in a row) or partial (transcripts containing 15 pyrimidines in a row) restoration of a regular splicing pathway. Splicing in vivo of these transcripts led exclusively to the spliced product containing all three exons. These results suggest that a balance between the length of the uninterrupted polypyrimidine tract and the length of the exon is an important determinant of the relative strength of the splice sites, ensuring correct splicing patterns of multiintron pre-mRNAs.

scholarly journals Selection of splice sites in pre-mRNAs with short internal exons.

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 6075-6083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Dominski ◽  
R Kole
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Globin Gene ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Polypyrimidine Tract ◽  
Splice Site Selection ◽  
Nuclear Extracts ◽  
Internal Exon

Model pre-mRNAs containing two introns and three exons, derived from the human beta-globin gene, were used to study the effects of internal exon length on splice site selection. Splicing was assayed in vitro in HeLa nuclear extracts and in vivo during transient expression in transfected HeLa cells. For substrates with internal exons 87, 104, and 171 nucleotides in length, in vitro splicing proceeded via a regular splicing pathway, in which all three exons were included in the spliced product. Primary transcripts with internal exons containing 23, 29, and 33 nucleotides were spliced by an alternative pathway, in which the first exon was joined directly to the third one. The internal exon was missing from the spliced product and together with two flanking introns was included in a large lariat structure. The same patterns of splicing were retained when transcripts containing 171-, 33-, and 29-nucleotide-long internal exons were spliced in vivo. A transcript containing a 51-nucleotide-long exon was spliced in vitro via both pathways but in vivo generated only a correctly spliced product. Skipping of short internal exons was reversed both in vitro and in vivo when purines in the upstream polypyrimidine tract were replaced by pyrimidines. The changes in the polypyrimidine tract achieved by these substitutions led in vitro to complete (transcripts containing 28 pyrimidines in a row) or partial (transcripts containing 15 pyrimidines in a row) restoration of a regular splicing pathway. Splicing in vivo of these transcripts led exclusively to the spliced product containing all three exons. These results suggest that a balance between the length of the uninterrupted polypyrimidine tract and the length of the exon is an important determinant of the relative strength of the splice sites, ensuring correct splicing patterns of multiintron pre-mRNAs.

scholarly journals Comparison of in vitro and in vivo splice site selection in kappa-immunoglobulin precursor mRNA.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2610-2619 ◽  
Author(s):  
D E Lowery ◽  
B G Van Ness
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Donor Site ◽  
Splice Donor Site ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Splice Donor ◽  
Splice Site Selection ◽  
Nuclear Extracts

The processing of a number of kappa-immunoglobulin primary mRNA (pre-mRNA) constructs has been examined both in vitro and in vivo. When a kappa-immunoglobulin pre-mRNA containing multiple J segment splice sites is processed in vitro, the splice sites are used with equal frequency. The presence of signal exon, S-V intron, or variable (V) region has no effect on splice site selection in vitro. Nuclear extracts prepared from a lymphoid cell line do not restore correct splice site selection. Splice site selection in vitro can be altered by changing the position or sequence of J splice donor sites. These results differ from the processing of similar pre-mRNAs expressed in vivo by transient transfection. The 5'-most J splice donor site was exclusively selected in vivo, even in nonlymphoid cells, and even in transcripts where in vitro splicing favored a 3' J splice site. The in vitro results are consistent with a model proposing that splice site selection is influenced by splice site strength and proximity; however, our in vivo results demonstrate a number of discrepancies with such a model and suggest that splice site selection may be coupled to transcription or a higher-order nuclear structure.

scholarly journals Effects of exon sequences on splicing of model pre-mRNA substrates in vitro.

1996 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Dominski ◽  
R Kole
Keyword(s):  
Globin Gene ◽  
Beta Globin ◽  
Splice Site Selection ◽  
Sequence Composition ◽  
Recognition Element ◽  
Internal Exon ◽  
Alternatively Spliced ◽  
In Vitro Splicing

We used several related pre-mRNA substrates consisting of two introns and three exons to study effects of exon sequences on in vitro splicing. By varying the sequence of the internal exon and measuring the frequency of its skipping we confirmed that 26-nucleotide exon element naturally existing in beta-globin gene and previously analysed in vivo, has a strong stimulatory effect on splicing. Sequence analysis of this element suggests that it belongs to a family of purine-rich splicing elements found in exons of several alternatively spliced pre-mRNAs. The 26-nucleotide element can efficiently function in enhancing inclusion of internal exons regardless of their size and sequence composition, suggesting that it plays a role of a general exon recognition element. The purine-rich element is dispensable in exons flanked by strong splice sites, which promote efficient inclusion of otherwise poorly recognized exons. A row of six cytidines inserted into the internal exon (GC2 mutation) initially considered to stimulate exon inclusion to a similar extent as the purine-rich element (Dominski & Kole, 1994, J. Biol. Chem. 269, 23590-23596), appears not to affect splice site selection in vitro, and in vivo it is likely to act by stabilizing mRNA that includes the internal exon against rapid cytoplasmic degradation.

Comparison of in vitro and in vivo splice site selection in kappa-immunoglobulin precursor mRNA

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2610-2619
Author(s):  
D E Lowery ◽  
B G Van Ness
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Donor Site ◽  
Splice Donor Site ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Splice Donor ◽  
Splice Site Selection ◽  
Nuclear Extracts

The processing of a number of kappa-immunoglobulin primary mRNA (pre-mRNA) constructs has been examined both in vitro and in vivo. When a kappa-immunoglobulin pre-mRNA containing multiple J segment splice sites is processed in vitro, the splice sites are used with equal frequency. The presence of signal exon, S-V intron, or variable (V) region has no effect on splice site selection in vitro. Nuclear extracts prepared from a lymphoid cell line do not restore correct splice site selection. Splice site selection in vitro can be altered by changing the position or sequence of J splice donor sites. These results differ from the processing of similar pre-mRNAs expressed in vivo by transient transfection. The 5'-most J splice donor site was exclusively selected in vivo, even in nonlymphoid cells, and even in transcripts where in vitro splicing favored a 3' J splice site. The in vitro results are consistent with a model proposing that splice site selection is influenced by splice site strength and proximity; however, our in vivo results demonstrate a number of discrepancies with such a model and suggest that splice site selection may be coupled to transcription or a higher-order nuclear structure.

scholarly journals Role of the 3′ Splice Site in U12-Dependent Intron Splicing

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1942-1952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary C. Dietrich ◽  
Marian J. Peris ◽  
Andrew S. Seyboldt ◽  
Richard A. Padgett
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Intron Splicing ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Splice Site Selection ◽  
Branch Site ◽  
Site Function

ABSTRACT U12-dependent introns containing alterations of the 3′ splice site AC dinucleotide or alterations in the spacing between the branch site and the 3′ splice site were examined for their effects on splice site selection in vivo and in vitro. Using an intron with a 5′ splice site AU dinucleotide, any nucleotide could serve as the 3′-terminal nucleotide, although a C residue was most active, while a U residue was least active. The penultimate A residue, by contrast, was essential for 3′ splice site function. A branch site-to-3′ splice site spacing of less than 10 or more than 20 nucleotides strongly activated alternative 3′ splice sites. A strong preference for a spacing of about 12 nucleotides was observed. The combined in vivo and in vitro results suggest that the branch site is recognized in the absence of an active 3′ splice site but that formation of the prespliceosomal complex A requires an active 3′ splice site. Furthermore, the U12-type spliceosome appears to be unable to scan for a distal 3′ splice site.

scholarly journals A 5′ Splice Site-Proximal Enhancer Binds SF1 and Activates Exon Bridging of a Microexon

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 3988-3995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Troy Carlo ◽  
Rebecca Sierra ◽  
Susan M. Berget
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Troponin T ◽  
Repeated Sequence ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Exon Definition ◽  
Internal Exon ◽  
Splicing Factor 1

ABSTRACT Internal exon size in vertebrates occurs over a narrow size range. Experimentally, exons shorter than 50 nucleotides are poorly included in mRNA unless accompanied by strengthened splice sites or accessory sequences that act as splicing enhancers, suggesting steric interference between snRNPs and other splicing factors binding simultaneously to the 3′ and 5′ splice sites of microexons. Despite these problems, very small naturally occurring exons exist. Here we studied the factors and mechanism involved in recognizing a constitutively included six-nucleotide exon from the cardiac troponin T gene. Inclusion of this exon is dependent on an enhancer located downstream of the 5′ splice site. This enhancer contains six copies of the simple sequence GGGGCUG. The enhancer activates heterologous microexons and will work when located either upstream or downstream of the target exon, suggesting an ability to bind factors that bridge splicing units. A single copy of this sequence is sufficient for in vivo exon inclusion and is the binding site for the known bridging mammalian splicing factor 1 (SF1). The enhancer and its bound SF1 act to increase recognition of the upstream exon during exon definition, such that competition of in vitro reactions with RNAs containing the GGGGCUG repeated sequence depress splicing of the upstream intron, assembly of the spliceosome on the 3′ splice site of the exon, and cross-linking of SF1. These results suggest a model in which SF1 bridges the small exon during initial assembly, thereby effectively extending the domain of the exon.

scholarly journals Cooperation of pre-mRNA sequence elements in splice site selection

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2108-2114
Author(s):  
Z Dominski ◽  
R Kole
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Exon Skipping ◽  
Polypyrimidine Tract ◽  
Splice Site Selection ◽  
Branch Point Sequence ◽  
Sequence Elements

We have recently demonstrated that short internal exons in pre-mRNA transcripts with three exons and two introns are ignored by splicing machinery in vitro and in vivo, resulting in exon skipping. Exon skipping is reversed when the pyrimidine content of the polypyrimidine tract in the upstream intron is increased (Z. Dominski and R. Kole, Mol. Cell. Biol. 11:6075-6083, 1991). Here we show that skipping of the short internal exon can be partially reversed by mutations which modify the upstream branch point sequence of the 5' splice site at the end of the exon to their respective consensus sequences. When the modified elements are combined with one another in the same pre-mRNA, exon skipping is fully reversed. Full reversion of exon skipping is also observed when these elements are combined individually with the upstream polypyrimidine tract strengthened by three purine-to-pyrimidine mutations. The observed patterns of splice site selection are similar in vitro (in nuclear extracts from HeLa cells) and in vivo (in transfected HeLa cells). We also show that the length of the downstream intron plays a role in splice site selection. Our data indicate that the interplay between the sequence elements in pre-mRNA controls the outcome of each splicing event, providing the means for very subtle regulation of alternative splicing.

scholarly journals In Vivo Requirement of the Small Subunit of U2AF for Recognition of a Weak 3′ Splice Site

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (21) ◽  
pp. 8183-8190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa R. Pacheco ◽  
Miguel B. Coelho ◽  
Joana M. P. Desterro ◽  
Inês Mollet ◽  
Maria Carmo-Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Polypyrimidine Tract ◽  
Interaction Domain ◽  
Specific Subset ◽  
U2 Snrnp ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACT The U2 snRNP auxiliary factor (U2AF) is an essential splicing factor composed of two subunits, a large, 65-kDa subunit (U2AF65) and a small subunit, U2AF35. U2AF65 binds to the polypyrimidine tract upstream from the 3′ splice site and promotes U2 snRNP binding to the pre-mRNA. Based on in vitro studies, it has been proposed that U2AF35 plays a role in assisting U2AF65 recruitment to nonconsensus polypyrimidine tracts. Here we have analyzed in vivo the roles of the two subunits of U2AF in the selection between alternative 3′ splice sites associated with polypyrimidine tracts of different strengths. Our results reveal a feedback mechanism by which RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated depletion of U2AF65 triggers the downregulation of U2AF35. We further show that the knockdown of each U2AF subunit inhibits weak 3′ splice site recognition, while overexpression of U2AF65 alone is sufficient to activate the selection of this splice site. A variant of U2AF65 lacking the interaction domain with U2AF35 shows a reduced ability to promote this splicing event, suggesting that recognition of the weak 3′ splice site involves the U2AF heterodimer. Furthermore, our data suggest that, rather than being required for splicing of all pre-mRNA substrates containing a weak polypyrimidine tract, U2AF35 regulates the selection of weak 3′ splice sites in a specific subset of cellular transcripts.

In vitro splicing of kappa immunoglobulin precursor mRNA

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1346-1351
Author(s):  
D E Lowery ◽  
B G Van Ness
Keyword(s):  
Donor Site ◽  
Variable Region ◽  
Splice Donor Site ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Transcription System ◽  
Nuclear Extracts ◽  
In Vitro Splicing ◽  
Precursor Mrna

The in vitro splicing of kappa immunoglobulin precursor mRNA was studied as an example of a naturally occurring mRNA possessing multiple 5' splice sites. Several kappa mRNAs were generated in vitro by using an SP6 transcription system and were spliced in nuclear extracts derived from HeLa cells. Products and intermediates resulting from in vitro splicing were identified and characterized. In contrast to the in vivo situation, in which apparently only the 5'-most splice donor site is used, all of the 5' splice sites were used in vitro with equal frequency. Neither the presence or absence of variable region coding sequences nor the deletion of intron sequences had an effect on in vitro splice site selection.

scholarly journals Cooperation of pre-mRNA sequence elements in splice site selection.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2108-2114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Dominski ◽  
R Kole
Keyword(s):  
Splice Site ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Exon Skipping ◽  
Polypyrimidine Tract ◽  
Splice Site Selection ◽  
Branch Point Sequence ◽  
Sequence Elements

We have recently demonstrated that short internal exons in pre-mRNA transcripts with three exons and two introns are ignored by splicing machinery in vitro and in vivo, resulting in exon skipping. Exon skipping is reversed when the pyrimidine content of the polypyrimidine tract in the upstream intron is increased (Z. Dominski and R. Kole, Mol. Cell. Biol. 11:6075-6083, 1991). Here we show that skipping of the short internal exon can be partially reversed by mutations which modify the upstream branch point sequence of the 5' splice site at the end of the exon to their respective consensus sequences. When the modified elements are combined with one another in the same pre-mRNA, exon skipping is fully reversed. Full reversion of exon skipping is also observed when these elements are combined individually with the upstream polypyrimidine tract strengthened by three purine-to-pyrimidine mutations. The observed patterns of splice site selection are similar in vitro (in nuclear extracts from HeLa cells) and in vivo (in transfected HeLa cells). We also show that the length of the downstream intron plays a role in splice site selection. Our data indicate that the interplay between the sequence elements in pre-mRNA controls the outcome of each splicing event, providing the means for very subtle regulation of alternative splicing.

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