scholarly journals Gel electrophoretic isolation of splicing complexes containing U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 814-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Zillmann ◽  
M L Zapp ◽  
S M Berget

Assembly of splicing precursor RNAs into ribonucleoprotein particle (RNP) complexes during incubation in in vitro splicing extracts was monitored by a new system of RNP gel electrophoresis. The temporal pattern of assembly observed by our system was identical to that obtained by other gel and gradient methodologies. In contrast to the results obtained by other systems, however, we observed requirements of U1 small nuclear RNPs (snRNPs) and 5' splice junction sequences for formation of specific complexes and retention of U1 snRNPs within gel-fractionated complexes. Single-intron substrate RNAs rapidly assembled into slow-migrating complexes. The first specific complex (A) appeared within a minute of incubation and required ATP, 5' and 3' precursor RNA consensus sequences, and intact U1 and U2 RNAs for formation. A second complex (B) containing precursor RNA appeared after 15 min of incubation. Lariat-exon 2 and exon 1 intermediates first appeared in this complex, operationally defining it as the active spliceosome. U4 RNA was required for appearance of complex B. Released lariat first appeared in a complex of intermediate mobility (A') and subsequently in rapidly migrating diffuse complexes. Ligated product RNA was observed only in fast-migrating complexes. U1 snRNPs were detected as components of gel-isolated complexes. Radiolabeled RNA within the A and B complexes was immunoprecipitated by U1-specific antibodies under gel-loading conditions and from gel-isolated complexes. Therefore, the RNP antigen remained associated with assembled complexes during gel electrophoresis. In addition, 5' splice junction sequences within gel-isolated A and B complexes were inaccessible to RNase H cleavage in the presence of a complementary oligonucleotide. Therefore, nuclear factors that bind 5' splice junctions also remained associated with 5' splice junctions under our gel conditions.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 814-821
Author(s):  
M Zillmann ◽  
M L Zapp ◽  
S M Berget

Assembly of splicing precursor RNAs into ribonucleoprotein particle (RNP) complexes during incubation in in vitro splicing extracts was monitored by a new system of RNP gel electrophoresis. The temporal pattern of assembly observed by our system was identical to that obtained by other gel and gradient methodologies. In contrast to the results obtained by other systems, however, we observed requirements of U1 small nuclear RNPs (snRNPs) and 5' splice junction sequences for formation of specific complexes and retention of U1 snRNPs within gel-fractionated complexes. Single-intron substrate RNAs rapidly assembled into slow-migrating complexes. The first specific complex (A) appeared within a minute of incubation and required ATP, 5' and 3' precursor RNA consensus sequences, and intact U1 and U2 RNAs for formation. A second complex (B) containing precursor RNA appeared after 15 min of incubation. Lariat-exon 2 and exon 1 intermediates first appeared in this complex, operationally defining it as the active spliceosome. U4 RNA was required for appearance of complex B. Released lariat first appeared in a complex of intermediate mobility (A') and subsequently in rapidly migrating diffuse complexes. Ligated product RNA was observed only in fast-migrating complexes. U1 snRNPs were detected as components of gel-isolated complexes. Radiolabeled RNA within the A and B complexes was immunoprecipitated by U1-specific antibodies under gel-loading conditions and from gel-isolated complexes. Therefore, the RNP antigen remained associated with assembled complexes during gel electrophoresis. In addition, 5' splice junction sequences within gel-isolated A and B complexes were inaccessible to RNase H cleavage in the presence of a complementary oligonucleotide. Therefore, nuclear factors that bind 5' splice junctions also remained associated with 5' splice junctions under our gel conditions.


1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 2877-2883
Author(s):  
M Zillmann ◽  
S D Rose ◽  
S M Berget

U1 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) are required for in vitro splicing of pre-mRNA. Sequences within U1 RNA hybridize to, and thus recognize, 5' splice junctions. We have investigated the mechanism of association of U1 snRNPs with the spliceosome. U1-specific antibodies detected U1 association with precursor RNA early during assembly. Removal of the 5' terminal sequences of U1 RNA by oligo-directed cleavage or removal of U1 snRNPs by immunoprecipitation prior to the addition of precursor RNA depressed the association of all snRNPs with precursor RNA as detected by immunoprecipitation of splicing complexes by either Sm or U1-specific antibodies. Assembly of the spliceosome as monitored by gel electrophoresis was also depressed after cleavage of U1 RNA. The dependency of Sm precipitability of precursor RNA upon the presence of U1 snRNPs suggests that U1 snRNPs participate in the early recognition of substrate RNAs by U2 to U6 snRNPs. Although removal of the 5'-terminal sequences of U1 depressed U1 snRNP association with precursor RNA, it did not eliminate it, suggesting semistable association of U1 snRNPs with the assembling spliceosome in the absence of U1 RNA hybridization. This association was not dependent upon 5' splice junction sequences but was dependent upon 3' intronic sequences, indicating that U1 snRNPs interact with factors recognizing 3' intronic sequences. Mutual dependence of 5' and 3' recognition factors suggests significant snRNP-snRNP communication during early assembly.


1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 2877-2883 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Zillmann ◽  
S D Rose ◽  
S M Berget

U1 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) are required for in vitro splicing of pre-mRNA. Sequences within U1 RNA hybridize to, and thus recognize, 5' splice junctions. We have investigated the mechanism of association of U1 snRNPs with the spliceosome. U1-specific antibodies detected U1 association with precursor RNA early during assembly. Removal of the 5' terminal sequences of U1 RNA by oligo-directed cleavage or removal of U1 snRNPs by immunoprecipitation prior to the addition of precursor RNA depressed the association of all snRNPs with precursor RNA as detected by immunoprecipitation of splicing complexes by either Sm or U1-specific antibodies. Assembly of the spliceosome as monitored by gel electrophoresis was also depressed after cleavage of U1 RNA. The dependency of Sm precipitability of precursor RNA upon the presence of U1 snRNPs suggests that U1 snRNPs participate in the early recognition of substrate RNAs by U2 to U6 snRNPs. Although removal of the 5'-terminal sequences of U1 depressed U1 snRNP association with precursor RNA, it did not eliminate it, suggesting semistable association of U1 snRNPs with the assembling spliceosome in the absence of U1 RNA hybridization. This association was not dependent upon 5' splice junction sequences but was dependent upon 3' intronic sequences, indicating that U1 snRNPs interact with factors recognizing 3' intronic sequences. Mutual dependence of 5' and 3' recognition factors suggests significant snRNP-snRNP communication during early assembly.


1998 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 3604-3608
Author(s):  
Gisah A. Carvalho ◽  
Roy E. Weiss ◽  
Samuel Refetoff

Fourteen T4-binding globulin (TBG) variants have been identified at the gene level. They are all located in the coding region of the gene and 6 produce complete deficiency of TBG (TBG-CD). We now describe the first mutation in a noncoding region producing TBG-CD. The proband was treated for over 20 yr with L-T4 because of fatigue associated with a low concentration of serum total T4. Fifteen family members were studied showing low total T4 inherited as an X chromosome-linked trait, and affected males had undetectable TBG in serum. Sequencing of the entire coding region and promoter of the TBG gene revealed no abnormality. However, an A to G transition was found in the acceptor splice junction of intron II that produced a new HaeIII restriction site cosegregating with the TBG-CD phenotype. Sequencing exon 1 to exon 3 of TBG complementary DNA reverse transcribed from messenger RNA of skin fibroblasts from an affected male, confirmed a shift in the ag acceptor splice site. This results in the insertion of a G in exon 2 and causes a frameshift and a premature stop at codon 195. This early termination of translation predicts a truncated TBG lacking 201 amino acids.


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 6299-6305
Author(s):  
M Talerico ◽  
S M Berget

Three exon constructs containing identical intron and exon sequences were mutated at the 5' splice site beginning intron 2 and assayed for the effect of the mutation on splicing of the upstream intron in vitro. Alteration of two or six bases within the 5' splice site reduced removal of intron 1 at least 20-fold, as determined by quantitation of either spliced product or released lariat RNA. The prominent product was skip splicing of exon 1 to exon 3. Examination of complex formation indicated that mutation of the 5' splice site terminating exon 2 depressed the ability of precursor RNAs containing just the affected exon to direct assembly in vitro. These results suggest that mutation at the end of an internal exon inhibits the ability of the exon to be recognized by splicing factors. A comparison of the known vertebrate 5' splice site mutations in which the mutation resides at the end of an internal exon indicated that exon skipping is the preferred phenotype for this type of mutation, in agreement with the in vitro observation reported here. Inhibition of splicing by mutation at the distal and of the exon supports the suggestion that exons, rather than splice sites, are the recognition units for assembly of the spliceosome.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1172-1172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca F. Goemans ◽  
Christian M. Zwaan ◽  
Gertjan J.L. Kaspers ◽  
Karel Hählen ◽  
Dirk Reinhardt ◽  
...  

Abstract The farnesyltransferase inhibitor tipifarnib (Zarnestra™) was originally developed to target malignancies harbouring RAS mutations. In the first clinical studies with tipifarnib, in adults with leukemia, it was found that patients who responded did not harbour any RAS mutations, suggesting a different mechanism of response. In a previous study we showed that 18% of 150 untreated pediatric AML patients harbour mutations in RAS, of which 30% were CBF-AML. We now studied 44 untreated and 13 relapsed pediatric AML, as well as 22 untreated ALL samples for mutations in RAS, using D-HPLC and direct sequencing. In vitro tipifarnib resistance was determined by a 4-day MTT assay (concentration 0.016-51μM, kindly provided by Janssen Research). The LC50 value, the concentration at which 50% of cells are killed by tipifarnib, was used as a measure of resistance. Patient characteristics were; for untreated AML: 64% boys; median age 9.3 years; median WBC 74.8x109/L; FAB 2xM0, 2xM1, 8xM2, 3xM3, 16xM4, 8xM5, 5x unclassified; for relapsed AML: 77% boys; median age 4.0 years; median WBC 41.6x109/L; FAB 2xM0, 2xM2, 3xM4, 2xM5, 2xM7, 2x unclassified; for untreated ALL: 73%boys; median age 6.0 years; median WBC 10.2x109/L; 15 B-cell precursor (BCP) ALL and 7 T-ALL. We found RAS mutations in 14 (32%) untreated AML samples (N-RAS : 8 samples exon 1, 1 sample exon 2; K-RAS: 5 samples exon 1 mutations). In relapsed AML 2 samples showed an N-RAS exon 1 mutation (15.4%). In ALL 18.2% had a RAS mutation: an N-RAS exon 1 mutation was found in 2 patients (9.1%) and a K-RAS exon 1 mutation in another 2 patients (9.1%). The distribution of tipifarnib sensitivity was similar in RAS mutated- and non-mutated untreated AML patients [median LC50 RAS mutated 7.1μM (P25-P75: 6.0-9.6μM) vs. non-mutated 4.9μM (P25-P75 2.3-8.2μM); p=0.199]. When we compared N-RAS mutated samples with K-RAS mutated samples there was no statistically significant difference in sensitivity to tipifarnib (median LC50 [p25-p75] 3.2μM [2.9-3.9μM] and 4.9μM [3.7-23.1μM], p=0.20), and comparing them separately with non-mutated AML did not show differences in sensitivity to tipifarnib (p=0.172 and p=0.463 respectively). One out of 9 (11%) N-RAS mutated and 3 out of 5 (60%) K-RAS mutated samples had an LC50 value above the 75th percentile for non-mutated AML and were considered resistant. Within relapsed AML the 2 RAS mutated samples had LC50 values of 0.83 and 6.3μM, versus a median value of 6.9μM for non-mutated relapsed AML. In ALL, we found similar results [median LC50 RAS mutated 7.8μM (P25-75: 4.1-12.8μM) vs. non-mutated 17.4μM (P25-75: 4.5-22.9μM), p=0.3], but the groups were very small. In conclusion, primary pediatric AML and ALL samples withRAS mutations show similar distributions of tipifarnib sensitivity as samples withoutRAS mutations. Hence, some RAS mutated samples may be relatively in-vitro resistant to tipifarnib, and some non-mutated samples may be relatively sensitive. Therefore, clinical studies with these compounds should not be restricted to RAS-mutated leukemia. Further studies are necessary to determine the molecular targets of farnesyltransferase inhibitors.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4345-4356 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Hamada ◽  
T Kumazaki ◽  
K Mizuno ◽  
K Yokoro

Low-molecular-weight RNA exhibiting transforming potential was identified in chemically induced lymphoma cells by the transformation of mink lung cells after transfection. The RNA was sequenced by the direct chemical method and was shown to be a small nuclear RNA, U5. The transforming potential of the RNA was further studied in quantitative transformation assays using 3Y1, a rat fibroblastic cell line. Transformed foci appeared with a latency of 3 to 4 weeks after transfection. U5-transformed 3Y1 cells frequently carried an amplified c-myc oncogene. In addition, U5 induced chromosome aberrations in transfected cells, indicating that the RNA acts as a clastogen. Transforming and clastogenic potentials were specifically inactivated when U5 was incubated with RNase H in the presence of a complementary oligonucleotide. We discuss a possible mechanism of U5-induced cell transformation.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4345-4356
Author(s):  
K Hamada ◽  
T Kumazaki ◽  
K Mizuno ◽  
K Yokoro

Low-molecular-weight RNA exhibiting transforming potential was identified in chemically induced lymphoma cells by the transformation of mink lung cells after transfection. The RNA was sequenced by the direct chemical method and was shown to be a small nuclear RNA, U5. The transforming potential of the RNA was further studied in quantitative transformation assays using 3Y1, a rat fibroblastic cell line. Transformed foci appeared with a latency of 3 to 4 weeks after transfection. U5-transformed 3Y1 cells frequently carried an amplified c-myc oncogene. In addition, U5 induced chromosome aberrations in transfected cells, indicating that the RNA acts as a clastogen. Transforming and clastogenic potentials were specifically inactivated when U5 was incubated with RNase H in the presence of a complementary oligonucleotide. We discuss a possible mechanism of U5-induced cell transformation.


1996 ◽  
Vol 151 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Y Krishna ◽  
C-I Pao ◽  
P M Thulé ◽  
B C Villafuerte ◽  
L S Phillips

Abstract Transcription initiation in the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene is complex, involving multiple sites in two exons. While most transcripts are initiated in exon 1 in vivo, critical regulatory mechanisms are difficult to assess in intact animals. To examine the impact of insulin and growth hormone (GH) under more controlled conditions, we have studied the utilization of different exon 1 and exon 2 transcription-initiation sites in normal rat hepatocytes in primary culture. Normal rat hepatocytes were cultured for 48 h in serum-free medium, with insulin at 10−6 or 10−11 m, and with or without human GH 200 ng/ml. Relative abundance of IGF-I transcripts was evaluated by the RNase-protection assay, using a probe which permitted identification of initiation in exon 1 (site 1 (−380 bp from the 3′ end of exon 1), site 2 (−343 bp), site 3 (−242 bp), sites 1 and 2 spliced, and site 4 (−32 bp)), as well as in exon 2. After normalization of signal intensity to adjust for differences in length of protected probe, the utilization of initiation sites in vitro was remarkably similar to that in vivo: 1, 14, 6, 23, 19 and 37% for sites 1, 2, 3, 1 and 2 spliced, 4 and exon 2 respectively in the cultured hepatocytes, compared with 1, 12, 8, 21, 18 and 40% for these sites in normal liver. Insulin alone increased transcripts initiated from exon 1, site 2 by over 3 times, and both sites 1 and 2 spliced and exon 2 transcripts by about 5 times. GH alone had similar effects, producing a 4–5 times increase in transcripts from these initiation sites. Addition of both insulin and GH had additive effects, increasing transcripts from exon 1, sites 2, 3 and 4 by 4–6 times, and from exon 1, sites 1 and 2 spliced, and exon 2 by over 8 times. Of the total IGF-I mRNA transcripts, 37% were initiated from sites 2 and/or sites 1 and 2 spliced, and 37% from exon 2. Analysis of the relative contribution of individual initiation sites revealed hormone-induced increases which were statistically significant only for exon 2, in the presence of insulin alone and in combination with GH. In conclusion, in cultured hepatocytes, insulin or GH alone produced a coordinated increase in all exon 1 transcripts, and the effect of the combination of insulin and GH was additive for these transcripts. Exon 2 appeared to be more sensitive to insulin alone, and to GH in the presence of insulin, than exon 1. Since utilization of initiation sites in hepatocytes mimics that found in liver, this in vitro system should be useful for examining underlying transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Journal of Endocrinology (1996) 151, 215–223


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 6299-6305 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Talerico ◽  
S M Berget

Three exon constructs containing identical intron and exon sequences were mutated at the 5' splice site beginning intron 2 and assayed for the effect of the mutation on splicing of the upstream intron in vitro. Alteration of two or six bases within the 5' splice site reduced removal of intron 1 at least 20-fold, as determined by quantitation of either spliced product or released lariat RNA. The prominent product was skip splicing of exon 1 to exon 3. Examination of complex formation indicated that mutation of the 5' splice site terminating exon 2 depressed the ability of precursor RNAs containing just the affected exon to direct assembly in vitro. These results suggest that mutation at the end of an internal exon inhibits the ability of the exon to be recognized by splicing factors. A comparison of the known vertebrate 5' splice site mutations in which the mutation resides at the end of an internal exon indicated that exon skipping is the preferred phenotype for this type of mutation, in agreement with the in vitro observation reported here. Inhibition of splicing by mutation at the distal and of the exon supports the suggestion that exons, rather than splice sites, are the recognition units for assembly of the spliceosome.


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