U2AF65 (U2AF2) and PUF60 (PUF60) are splicing factors important for recruitment of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein to lariat branch points and selection of 3' splice sites (3'ss). Both proteins preferentially bind uridine-rich sequences upstream of 3'ss via their RNA recognition motifs (RRMs). Here, we examined 36 RRM substitutions reported in cancer patients to identify variants that alter 3'ss selection, RNA binding and protein properties. Employing PUF60- and U2AF65-dependent 3'ss previously identified by RNA-seq of depleted cells, we found that 43% (10/23) and 15% (2/13) of independent RRM mutations in U2AF65 and PUF60, respectively, conferred splicing defects. At least three RRM mutations increased skipping of internal U2AF2 (~9%, 2/23) or PUF60 (~8%, 1/13) exons, indicating that cancer-associated RRM mutations can have both cis- and trans-acting effects on splicing. We also report residues required for correct folding/stability of each protein and map functional RRM substitutions on to existing high-resolution structures of U2AF65 and PUF60. These results identify new RRM residues critical for 3'ss selection and provide relatively simple tools to detect clonal RRM mutations that enhance the mRNA isoform diversity.

• Klíčová slova
• 3′ splice site, Functional genomics, PUF60, SF3B4, U2AF2, cancer, differential scanning fluorimetry, driver mutation, exon inclusion, gel shift assay, lariat branch point, leukemia, mRNA, pre-mRNA splicing,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

PUF60 is a splicing factor that binds uridine (U)-rich tracts and facilitates association of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein with primary transcripts. PUF60 deficiency (PD) causes a developmental delay coupled with intellectual disability and spinal, cardiac, ocular and renal defects, but PD pathogenesis is not understood. Using RNA-Seq, we identify human PUF60-regulated exons and show that PUF60 preferentially acts as their activator. PUF60-activated internal exons are enriched for Us upstream of their 3' splice sites (3'ss), are preceded by longer AG dinucleotide exclusion zones and more distant branch sites, with a higher probability of unpaired interactions across a typical branch site location as compared to control exons. In contrast, PUF60-repressed exons show U-depletion with lower estimates of RNA single-strandedness. We also describe PUF60-regulated, alternatively spliced isoforms encoding other U-bound splicing factors, including PUF60 partners, suggesting that they are co-regulated in the cell, and identify PUF60-regulated exons derived from transposed elements. PD-associated amino-acid substitutions, even within a single RNA recognition motif (RRM), altered selection of competing 3'ss and branch points of a PUF60-dependent exon and the 3'ss choice was also influenced by alternative splicing of PUF60. Finally, we propose that differential distribution of RNA processing steps detected in cells lacking PUF60 and the PUF60-paralog RBM39 is due to the RBM39 RS domain interactions. Together, these results provide new insights into regulation of exon usage by the 3'ss organization and reveal that germline mutation heterogeneity in RRMs can enhance phenotypic variability at the level of splice-site and branch-site selection.

• MeSH
• aminokyselinové motivy MeSH
• exony * MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• HeLa buňky MeSH
• heterogenní jaderné ribonukleoproteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• jaderné proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• krátké rozptýlené jaderné elementy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• malý jaderný ribonukleoprotein U1 metabolismus   MeSH
• missense mutace * MeSH
• místa sestřihu RNA * MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA metabolismus   MeSH
• represorové proteiny chemie   nedostatek   metabolismus   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza RNA MeSH
• sestřihové faktory chemie   nedostatek   metabolismus   MeSH
• sestřihový faktor U2AF MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• HCC1 autoantigen MeSH Prohlížeč
• heterogenní jaderné ribonukleoproteiny MeSH
• jaderné proteiny MeSH
• malý jaderný ribonukleoprotein U1 MeSH
• místa sestřihu RNA * MeSH
• poly-U binding splicing factor 60KDa MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteiny vázající RNA MeSH
• represorové proteiny MeSH
• sestřihové faktory MeSH
• sestřihový faktor U2AF MeSH
• SNRNP70 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč