scholarly journals Commitment of yeast pre-mRNA to the splicing pathway requires a novel U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide, Prp39p

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 3623-3633
Author(s):  
S R Lockhart ◽  
B C Rymond

The binding of a U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) particle to the 5' splice site region of a pre-mRNA is a primary step of intron recognition. In this report, we identify a novel 75-kDa polypeptide of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Prp39p, necessary for the stable interaction of mRNA precursors with the snRNP components of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery. In vivo, temperature inactivation or metabolic depletion of Prp39p blocks pre-mRNA splicing and causes growth arrest. Analyses of cell extracts reveal a specific and dramatic increase in the electrophoretic mobility of the U1 snRNP particle upon Prp39p depletion and demonstrate that extracts deficient in Prp39p activity are unable to form either the CC1 or CC2 commitment complex band characteristic of productive U1 snRNP/pre-mRNA association. Immunological studies establish that Prp39p is uniquely associated with the U1 snRNP and is recruited with the U1 snRNP into splicing complexes. On the basis of these and related observations, we propose that Prp39p functions, at least in part, prior to stable branch point recognition by the U1 snRNP particle to facilitate or stabilize the U1 snRNP/5' splice site interaction.

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 3623-3633 ◽  
Author(s):  
S R Lockhart ◽  
B C Rymond

The binding of a U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) particle to the 5' splice site region of a pre-mRNA is a primary step of intron recognition. In this report, we identify a novel 75-kDa polypeptide of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Prp39p, necessary for the stable interaction of mRNA precursors with the snRNP components of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery. In vivo, temperature inactivation or metabolic depletion of Prp39p blocks pre-mRNA splicing and causes growth arrest. Analyses of cell extracts reveal a specific and dramatic increase in the electrophoretic mobility of the U1 snRNP particle upon Prp39p depletion and demonstrate that extracts deficient in Prp39p activity are unable to form either the CC1 or CC2 commitment complex band characteristic of productive U1 snRNP/pre-mRNA association. Immunological studies establish that Prp39p is uniquely associated with the U1 snRNP and is recruited with the U1 snRNP into splicing complexes. On the basis of these and related observations, we propose that Prp39p functions, at least in part, prior to stable branch point recognition by the U1 snRNP particle to facilitate or stabilize the U1 snRNP/5' splice site interaction.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 445-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Roy ◽  
B Zheng ◽  
B C Rymond ◽  
J L Woolford

Spliceosome assembly during pre-mRNA splicing requires the correct positioning of the U1, U2, U4/U6, and U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) on the precursor mRNA. The structure and integrity of these snRNPs are maintained in part by the association of the snRNAs with core snRNP (Sm) proteins. The Sm proteins also play a pivotal role in metazoan snRNP biogenesis. We have characterized a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, SMD3, that encodes the core snRNP protein Smd3. The Smd3 protein is required for pre-mRNA splicing in vivo. Depletion of this protein from yeast cells affects the levels of U snRNAs and their cap modification, indicating that Smd3 is required for snRNP biogenesis. Smd3 is structurally and functionally distinct from the previously described yeast core polypeptide Smd1. Although Smd3 and Smd1 are both associated with the spliceosomal snRNPs, overexpression of one cannot compensate for the loss of the other. Thus, these two proteins have distinct functions. A pool of Smd3 exists in the yeast cytoplasm. This is consistent with the possibility that snRNP assembly in S. cerevisiae, as in metazoans, is initiated in the cytoplasm from a pool of RNA-free core snRNP protein complexes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (19) ◽  
pp. 5924-5936 ◽  
Author(s):  
AnYu Zhou ◽  
Alexander C. Ou ◽  
Aeri Cho ◽  
Edward J. Benz ◽  
Shu-Ching Huang

ABSTRACT RBM25 has been shown to associate with splicing cofactors SRm160/300 and assembled splicing complexes, but little is known about its splicing regulation. Here, we characterize the functional role of RBM25 in alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Increased RBM25 expression correlated with increased apoptosis and specifically affected the expression of Bcl-x isoforms. RBM25 stimulated proapoptotic Bcl-xS 5′ splice site (5′ ss) selection in a dose-dependent manner, whereas its depletion caused the accumulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-xL. Furthermore, RBM25 specifically bound to Bcl-x RNA through a CGGGCA sequence located within exon 2. Mutation in this element abolished the ability of RBM25 to enhance Bcl-xS 5′ ss selection, leading to decreased Bcl-xS isoform expression. Binding of RBM25 was shown to promote the recruitment of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) to the weak 5′ ss; however, it was not required when a strong consensus 5′ ss was present. In support of a role for RBM25 in modulating the selection of a 5′ ss, we demonstrated that RBM25 associated selectively with the human homolog of yeast U1 snRNP-associated factor hLuc7A. These data suggest a novel mode for Bcl-xS 5′ ss activation in which binding of RBM25 with exonic element CGGGCA may stabilize the pre-mRNA-U1 snRNP through interactions with hLuc7A.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3037-3046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Gottschalk ◽  
Cornelia Bartels ◽  
Gitte Neubauer ◽  
Reinhard Lührmann ◽  
Patrizia Fabrizio

ABSTRACT We have isolated and microsequenced Snu17p, a novel yeast protein with a predicted molecular mass of 17 kDa that contains an RNA recognition motif. We demonstrate that Snu17p binds specifically to the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) and that it is part of the spliceosome, since the pre-mRNA and the lariat-exon 2 are specifically coprecipitated with Snu17p. Although the SNU17gene is not essential, its knockout leads to a slow-growth phenotype and to a pre-mRNA splicing defect in vivo. In addition, the first step of splicing is dramatically decreased in extracts prepared from thesnu17 deletion (snu17Δ) mutant. This defect is efficiently reversed by the addition of recombinant Snu17p. To investigate the step of spliceosome assembly at which Snu17p acts, we have used nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. In Snu17p-deficient extracts, the spliceosome runs as a single slowly migrating complex. In wild-type extracts, usually at least two distinct complexes are observed: the prespliceosome, or B complex, containing the U2 but not the U1 snRNP, and the catalytically active spliceosome, or A complex, containing the U2, U6, and U5 snRNPs. Northern blot analysis and affinity purification of the snu17Δ spliceosome showed that it contains the U1, U2, U6, U5, and U4 snRNPs. The unexpected stabilization of the U1 snRNP and the lack of dissociation of the U4 snRNP suggest that loss of Snu17p inhibits the progression of spliceosome assembly prior to U1 snRNP release and after [U4/U6.U5] tri-snRNP addition.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 7510-7520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura O’Mullane ◽  
Ian C. Eperon

ABSTRACT Efficient splicing of the 5′-most intron of pre-mRNA requires a 5′ m7G(5′)ppp(5′)N cap, which has been implicated in U1 snRNP binding to 5′ splice sites. We demonstrate that the cap alters the kinetic profile of U1 snRNP binding, but its major effect is on U6 snRNA binding. With two alternative wild-type splice sites in an adenovirus pre-mRNA, the cap selectively alters U1 snRNA binding at the site to which cap-independent U1 snRNP binding is stronger and that is used predominantly in splicing; with two consensus sites, the cap acts on both, even though one is substantially preferred for splicing. However, the most striking quantitative effect of the 5′ cap is neither on U1 snRNP binding nor on the assembly of large complexes but on the replacement of U1 snRNP by U6 snRNA at the 5′ splice site. Inhibition of splicing by a cap analogue is correlated with the loss of U6 interactions at the 5′ splice site and not with any loss of U1 snRNP binding.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 5919-5928 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Grabowski ◽  
F U Nasim ◽  
H C Kuo ◽  
R Burch

A two-site model for the binding of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (U1 snRNP) was tested in order to understand how exon partners are selected in complex pre-mRNAs containing alternative exons. In this model, it is proposed that two U1 snRNPs define a functional unit of splicing by base pairing to the 3' boundary of the downstream exon as well as the 5' boundary of the intron to be spliced. Three-exon substrates contained the alternatively spliced exon 4 (E4) region of the preprotachykinin gene. Combined 5' splice site mutations at neighboring exons demonstrate that weakened binding of U1 snRNP at the downstream site and improved U1 snRNP binding at the upstream site result in the failure to rescue splicing of the intron between the mutations. These results indicate the stringency of the requirement for binding a second U1 snRNP to the downstream 5' splice site for these substrates as opposed to an alternative model in which a certain threshold level of U1 snRNP can be provided at either site. Further support for the two-site model is provided by single-site mutations in the 5' splice site of the third exon, E5, that weaken base complementarity to U1 RNA. These mutations block E5 branchpoint formation and, surprisingly, generate novel branchpoints that are specified chiefly by their proximity to a cryptic 5' splice site located at the 3' terminus of the pre-mRNA. The experiments shown here demonstrate a true stimulation of 3' splice site activity by the downstream binding of U1 snRNP and suggest a possible mechanism by which combinatorial patterns of exon selection are achieved for alternatively spliced pre-mRNAs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah R. Hansen ◽  
Ivan R Corrêa ◽  
Mark Scalf ◽  
Lloyd M. Smith ◽  
Aaron A Hoskins

In eukaryotes, splice sites define the introns of pre-mRNAs and must be recognized and excised with nucleotide precision by the spliceosome to make the correct mRNA product. In one of the earliest steps of spliceosome assembly, the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) recognizes the 5' splice site (5' SS) through a combination of base pairing, protein-RNA contacts, and interactions with other splicing factors. Previous studies investigating the mechanisms of 5' SS recognition have largely been done in vivo or in cellular extracts where the U1/5' SS interaction is difficult to deconvolute from the effects of trans-acting factors or RNA structure. In this work we used co-localization single-molecule spectroscopy (CoSMoS) to elucidate the pathway of 5' SS selection by purified yeast U1 snRNP. We determined that U1 reversibly selects 5' SS in a sequence-dependent, two-step mechanism. A kinetic selection scheme enforces pairing at particular positions rather than overall duplex stability to achieve long-lived U1 binding. Our results provide a kinetic basis for how U1 may rapidly surveil nascent transcripts for 5' SS and preferentially accumulate at these sequences rather than on close cognates.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suyang Zhang ◽  
Shintaro Aibara ◽  
Seychelle M. Vos ◽  
Dmitry E. Agafonov ◽  
Reinhard Lührmann ◽  
...  

AbstractTo initiate co-transcriptional splicing, RNA polymerase II (Pol II) recruits U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (U1 snRNP) to nascent pre-mRNA. Here we report the cryo-EM structure of a mammalian transcribing Pol II-U1 snRNP complex. The structure reveals that Pol II and U1 snRNP interact directly. This interaction positions the 5’ splice site in pre-mRNA near the RNA exit site of Pol II. Extension of pre-mRNA retains the 5’ splice site, leading to formation of an intron loop. Loop formation may facilitate scanning of the nascent pre-mRNA for the 3’ splice site and enable prespliceosome assembly and functional pairing of distant intron ends. Our results provide a starting point for a mechanistic analysis of co-transcriptional splicing and the biogenesis of mRNA isoforms during alternative splicing.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 5919-5928
Author(s):  
P J Grabowski ◽  
F U Nasim ◽  
H C Kuo ◽  
R Burch

A two-site model for the binding of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (U1 snRNP) was tested in order to understand how exon partners are selected in complex pre-mRNAs containing alternative exons. In this model, it is proposed that two U1 snRNPs define a functional unit of splicing by base pairing to the 3' boundary of the downstream exon as well as the 5' boundary of the intron to be spliced. Three-exon substrates contained the alternatively spliced exon 4 (E4) region of the preprotachykinin gene. Combined 5' splice site mutations at neighboring exons demonstrate that weakened binding of U1 snRNP at the downstream site and improved U1 snRNP binding at the upstream site result in the failure to rescue splicing of the intron between the mutations. These results indicate the stringency of the requirement for binding a second U1 snRNP to the downstream 5' splice site for these substrates as opposed to an alternative model in which a certain threshold level of U1 snRNP can be provided at either site. Further support for the two-site model is provided by single-site mutations in the 5' splice site of the third exon, E5, that weaken base complementarity to U1 RNA. These mutations block E5 branchpoint formation and, surprisingly, generate novel branchpoints that are specified chiefly by their proximity to a cryptic 5' splice site located at the 3' terminus of the pre-mRNA. The experiments shown here demonstrate a true stimulation of 3' splice site activity by the downstream binding of U1 snRNP and suggest a possible mechanism by which combinatorial patterns of exon selection are achieved for alternatively spliced pre-mRNAs.


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