SR-related proteins and the processing of messenger RNA precursors

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J Blencowe ◽  
John AL Bowman ◽  
Susan McCracken ◽  
Emanuel Rosonina

The processing of messenger RNA precursors (pre-mRNA) to mRNA in metazoans requires a large number of proteins that contain domains rich in alternating arginine and serine residues (RS domains). These include members of the SR family of splicing factors and proteins that are structurally and functionally distinct from the SR family, collectively referred to below as SR-related proteins. Both groups of RS domain proteins function in constitutive and regulated pre-mRNA splicing. Recently, several SR-related proteins have been identified that are associated with the transcriptional machinery. Other SR-related proteins are associated with mRNA 3prime end formation and have been implicated in export. We review these findings and evidence that proteins containing RS domains may play a fundamental role in coordinating different steps in the synthesis and processing of pre-mRNA.Key words: SR protein, RNA polymerase, spliceosome, polyadenylation, nuclear matrix.

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1718-1728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ihab Younis ◽  
Michael Berg ◽  
Daisuke Kaida ◽  
Kimberly Dittmar ◽  
Congli Wang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Bioactive compounds have been invaluable for dissecting the mechanisms, regulation, and functions of cellular processes. However, very few such reagents have been described for pre-mRNA splicing. To facilitate their systematic discovery, we developed a high-throughput cell-based assay that measures pre-mRNA splicing by utilizing a quantitative reporter system with advantageous features. The reporter, consisting of a destabilized, intron-containing luciferase expressed from a short-lived mRNA, allows rapid screens (<4 h), thereby obviating the potential toxicity of splicing inhibitors. We describe three inhibitors (out of >23,000 screened), all pharmacologically active: clotrimazole, flunarizine, and chlorhexidine. Interestingly, none was a general splicing inhibitor. Rather, each caused distinct splicing changes of numerous genes. We further discovered the target of action of chlorhexidine and show that it is a selective inhibitor of specific Cdc2-like kinases (Clks) that phosphorylate serine-arginine-rich (SR) protein splicing factors. Our findings reveal unexpected activities of clinically used drugs in splicing and uncover differential regulation of constitutively spliced introns.


1998 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 737-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan-You Wang ◽  
Wen Lin ◽  
Jacqueline A. Dyck ◽  
Joanne M. Yeakley ◽  
Zhou Songyang ◽  
...  

Abstract. Reversible phosphorylation plays an important role in pre-mRNA splicing in mammalian cells. Two kinases, SR protein-specific kinase (SRPK1) and Clk/Sty, have been shown to phosphorylate the SR family of splicing factors. We report here the cloning and characterization of SRPK2, which is highly related to SRPK1 in sequence, kinase activity, and substrate specificity. Random peptide selection for preferred phosphorylation sites revealed a stringent preference of SRPK2 for SR dipeptides, and the consensus derived may be used to predict potential phosphorylation sites in candidate arginine and serine-rich (RS) domain–containing proteins. Phosphorylation of an SR protein (ASF/SF2) by either SRPK1 or 2 enhanced its interaction with another RS domain–containing protein (U1 70K), and overexpression of either kinase induced specific redistribution of splicing factors in the nucleus. These observations likely reflect the function of the SRPK family of kinases in spliceosome assembly and in mediating the trafficking of splicing factors in mammalian cells. The biochemical and functional similarities between SRPK1 and 2, however, are in contrast to their differences in expression. SRPK1 is highly expressed in pancreas, whereas SRPK2 is highly expressed in brain, although both are coexpressed in other human tissues and in many experimental cell lines. Interestingly, SRPK2 also contains a proline-rich sequence at its NH2 terminus, and a recent study showed that this NH2-terminal sequence has the capacity to interact with a WW domain protein in vitro. Together, our studies suggest that different SRPK family members may be uniquely regulated and targeted, thereby contributing to splicing regulation in different tissues, during development, or in response to signaling.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 2011-2024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie D. Ohi ◽  
Andrew J. Link ◽  
Liping Ren ◽  
Jennifer L. Jennings ◽  
W. Hayes McDonald ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Schizosaccharomyces pombe Cdc5p and its Saccharomyces cerevisiae ortholog, Cef1p, are essential Myb-related proteins implicated in pre-mRNA splicing and contained within large multiprotein complexes. Here we describe the tandem affinity purification (TAP) of Cdc5p- and Cef1p-associated complexes. Using transmission electron microscopy, we show that the purified Cdc5p complex is a discrete structure. The components of the S. pombe Cdc5p/S. cerevisiae Cef1p complexes (termed Cwfs or Cwcs, respectively) were identified using direct analysis of large protein complex (DALPC) mass spectrometry (A. J. Link et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 17:676-682, 1999). At least 26 proteins were detected in the Cdc5p/Cef1p complexes. Comparison of the polypeptides identified by S. pombe Cdc5p purification with those identified by S. cerevisiae Cef1p purification indicates that these two yeast complexes are nearly identical in composition. The majority of S. pombe Cwf proteins and S. cerevisiae Cwc proteins are known pre-mRNA splicing factors including core Sm and U2 and U5 snRNP components. In addition, the complex contains the U2, U5, and U6 snRNAs. Previously uncharacterized proteins were also identified, and we provide evidence that several of these novel factors are involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Our data represent the first comprehensive analysis of CDC5-associated proteins in yeasts, describe a discrete highly conserved complex containing novel pre-mRNA splicing factors, and demonstrate the power of DALPC for identification of components in multiprotein complexes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingming Sun ◽  
Yutong Jin ◽  
Chaoqun Zhu ◽  
Yanghai Zhang ◽  
Martin Liss ◽  
...  

AbstractMolecular and cellular mechanisms of mutations of splicing factors in heart function are not well understood. The splicing of precursor mRNA is dependent on an essential group of splicing factors containing serine-arginine (SR) domain(s) that are critical for protein-RNA and protein-protein interaction in the spliceosome assembly. Phosphorylation of SR domains plays a key role in splicing control and the distribution of splicing factors in the cell. RNA binding motif 20 (RBM20) is a splicing factor predominantly expressed in muscle tissues with the highest expression level in the heart. However, its phosphorylation status is completely unknown up-to-date. In this study, we identified sixteen amino acid residues that are phosphorylated by middle-down mass spectrometry. Four of them are located in the SR domain, and two out of the four residues, S638 and S640, play an essential role in splicing control and facilitate RBM20 shuttling from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Re-localization of RBM20 promotes protein aggregation in the cytoplasm. We have also verified that SR-protein kinases (SRPKs), cdc2-like kinases (CLKs) and protein kinase B (PKB or AKT) phosphorylate S638 and S640. Mutations of S638A and S640G reduce RBM20 phosphorylation and disrupt the splicing. Taken together, we determine the phosphorylation status of RBM20 and provide the first evidence that phosphorylation on SR domain is crucial for pre-mRNA splicing and protein trafficking. Our findings reveal a new role of RBM20 via protein shuttling in cardiac function.


1994 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
B J Blencowe ◽  
J A Nickerson ◽  
R Issner ◽  
S Penman ◽  
P A Sharp

mAbs raised against the human nuclear matrix (anti-NM)1 mAbs have been used to investigate the role of nuclear matrix antigens in pre-mRNA processing. The three anti-NM mAbs used in this study recognize antigens that are highly localized to nuclear matrix speckles. Surprisingly, all three of these mAbs preferentially immunoprecipitate splicing complexes containing exon sequences. The anti-NM mAbs efficiently immunoprecipitate the exon product complex but not complexes containing the lariat product after the second step of splicing. Two of the anti-NM mAbs completely inhibit pre-mRNA splicing in vitro. However, none of the anti-NM mAbs appear to recognize factors stably associated with splicing snRNPs. The three anti-NM mAbs predominantly react with distinct high molecular weight antigens, which belong to a class of nuclear proteins that selectively precipitate with Ser-Arg protein-splicing factors in the presence of high Mg2+ concentrations. Immunological, biochemical, and cell biological data indicate that two of the NM antigens are related to the defined set of Ser-Arg proteins. The results suggest the existence of an extended Ser-Arg family as a component of the nuclear matrix.


1994 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 1341-1352 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Richler ◽  
G Ast ◽  
R Goitein ◽  
J Wahrman ◽  
R Sperling ◽  
...  

The study of the effect of programmed cessation of transcription in a large nuclear domain, on the distribution of elements of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery, is the main aim of this paper. To this end, we took advantage of the nuclear partitioning of mouse spermatocytes early in meiosis into autosomal transcribing and XY nontranscribing compartments. This system also allows to extend this study to stages in sperm differentiation that are accompanied by reduction and eventual cessation of transcription. We show by indirect immunofluorescence in spermatogenetic cells that 1) fluorescent signals of the pre-mRNA splicing factors SF53/4 and SC35, of the Sm antigens, and of RNA polymerase II, are largely absent from the nontranscribing, X-inactivated compartment, but are abundantly present in the transcribing autosomal compartment and 2) the presence, gradual reduction, and absence of transcriptive activity in nuclei undergoing the sperm formation sequence are positively correlated with the fluorescence patterns of the antibodies against SF53/4, SC35, and the Sm antigens. These data suggest that cessation of transcription during spermatogenesis is accompanied by exclusion of the splicing machinery from nontranscribing chromatin to its vicinity.


Author(s):  
D.L. Spector ◽  
S. Huang ◽  
S. Kaurin

We have been interested in the organization of RNA polymerase II transcription and pre-mRNA splicing within the cell nucleus. Several models have been proposed for the functional organization of RNA within the eukaryotic nucleus and for the relationship of this organization to the distribution of pre-mRNA splicing factors. One model suggests that RNAs which must be spliced are capable of recruiting splicing factors to the sites of transcription from storage and/or reassembly sites. When one examines the organization of splicing factors in the nucleus in comparison to the sites of chromatin it is clear that splicing factors are not localized in coincidence with heterochromatin (Fig. 1). Instead, they are distributed in a speckled pattern which is composed of both perichromatin fibrils and interchromatin granule clusters. The perichromatin fibrils are distributed on the periphery of heterochromatin and on the periphery of interchromatin granule clusters as well as being diffusely distributed throughout the nucleoplasm. These nuclear regions have been previously shown to represent initial sites of incorporation of 3H-uridine.


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