The yeast PRP6 gene encodes a U4/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) protein, and the PRP9 gene encodes a protein required for U2 snRNP binding.

PRP6 and PRP9 are two yeast genes involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Incubation at 37 degrees C of strains that carry temperature-sensitive mutations at these loci inhibits splicing, and in vivo experiments suggested that they might be involved in commitment complex formation (P. Legrain and M. Rosbash, Cell 57:573-583, 1989). To examine the specific role that the PRP6 and PRP9 products may play in splicing or pre-mRNA transport to the cytoplasm, we have characterized in vitro splicing and spliceosome assembly in extracts derived from prp6 and prp9 mutant strains. We have also characterized RNAs that are specifically immunoprecipitated with the PRP6 and PRP9 proteins. Both approaches indicate that PRP6 encodes a U4/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) protein and that the PRP9 protein is required for a stable U2 snRNP-substrate interaction. The results are discussed with reference to the previously observed in vivo phenotypes of these mutants.     

The biochemical defects of prp4-1 and prp6-1 yeast splicing mutants reveal that the PRP6 protein is required for the accumulation of the [U4/U6.U5] tri-snRNP.

We have raised specific antibodies against the PRP6 protein and shown that the U4, U5 and U6 snRNAs are co-precipitated with this protein. Using splicing extracts prepared from in vivo heat-inactivated cells, we have characterized the prp4-1 and prp6-1 biochemical defects. In inactivated prp4-1 cell extracts, the U6 snRNA content as well as the U6, U4/U6 snRNPs and the [U4/U6.U5] tri-snRNP particles amounts are severely reduced. In inactivated prp6-1 cell extracts, the PRP6 mutant protein is barely detectable. Glycerol gradient analyses indicate that, in these extracts, the [U4/U6.U5] tri-snRNPs are present in very low amounts, but U4/U6 snRNP particles are normally represented. These results establish that the PRP6 protein is required for the accumulation of the [U4/U6.U5] tri-snRNP. We found no evidence for the presence of the PRP6 protein in the U4/U6 particle.     

The yeast Prp3 protein is a U4/U6 snRNP protein necessary for integrity of the U4/U6 snRNP and the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP.

Previously, yeast prp3 mutants were found to be blocked prior to the first catalytic step of pre-mRNA splicing. No splicing intermediates or products are formed from pre-mRNA in heat-inactivated prp3 mutants or prp3 mutant extracts. Here we show that Prp3p is a component of the U4/U6 snRNP and is also present in the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP. Heat inactivation of prp3 extracts results in depletion of free U6 snRNPs and U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNPs, but not U4/U6 snRNPs or U5 snRNPs. Free U4 snRNP, normally not present in wild-type extracts, accumulates under these conditions. Assays of in vivo levels of snRNAs in a prp3 mutant revealed that amounts of free U6 snRNA decreased, free U4 snRNA increased, and U4/U6 hybrids decreased slightly. These results suggest that Prp3p is required for formation of stable U4/U6 snRNPs and for assembly of the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP from its component snRNPs. Upon inactivation of Prp3p, spliceosomes cannot assemble from prespliceosomes due to the absence of intact U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNPs. Prp3p is homologous to a human protein that is a component of U4/U6 snRNPs, exemplifying the conservation of splicing factors between yeast and metazoans.     

A U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle protein involved only in the second step of pre-mRNA splicing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The PRP18 gene, which had been identified in a screen for pre-mRNA splicing mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been cloned and sequenced. Yeast strains bearing only a disrupted copy of PRP18 are temperature sensitive for growth; even at a low temperature, they grow extremely slowly and do not splice pre-mRNA efficiently. This unusual temperature sensitivity can be reproduced in vitro; extracts immunodepleted of PRP18 are temperature sensitive for the second step of splicing. The PRP18 protein has been overexpressed in active form in Escherichia coli and has been purified to near homogeneity. Antibodies directed against PRP18 precipitate the U4/U5/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) from yeast extracts. From extracts depleted of the U6 small nuclear RNA (snRNA), the U4 and U5 snRNAs can be immunoprecipitated, while no snRNAs can be precipitated from extracts depleted of the U5 snRNA. PRP18 therefore appears to be primarily associated with the U5 snRNP. The antibodies against PRP18 inhibit the second step of pre-mRNA splicing in vitro. Together, these results imply that the U5 snRNP plays a role in the second step of splicing and suggest a model for the action of PRP18.     

The Prp1(+) Gene Required for Pre-mRNA Splicing in Schizosaccharomyces Pombe Encodes a Protein That Contains Tpr Motifs and Is Similar to Prp6p of Budding Yeast

The prp (pre-mRNA processing) mutants of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe have a defect in pre-mRNA splicing and accumulate mRNA precursors at a restrictive temperature. One of the prp mutants, prp1-4, also has a defect in poly(A)(+) RNA transport. The prp1(+) gene encodes a protein of 906 amino acid residues that contains 19 repeats of 34 amino acids termed tetratrico peptide repeat (TPR) motifs, which were proposed to mediate protein-protein interactions. The amino acid sequence of Prp1p shares 29.6% identity and 50.6% similarity with that of the PRP6 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is a component of the U4/U6 snRNP required for spliceosome assembly. No functional complementation was observed between S. pombe prp1(+) and S. cerevisiae PRP6. We examined synthetic lethality of prp1-4 with the other known prp mutations in S. pombe. The results suggest that Prp1p interacts either physically or functionally with Prp4p, Prp6p and Prp13p. Interestingly, the prp1(+) gene was found to be identical with the zer1(+) gene that functions in cell cycle control. These results suggest that Prp1p/Zer1p is either directly or indirectly involved in cell cycle progression and/or poly(A)(+) RNA nuclear export, in addition to pre-mRNA splicing.     

Interactions between highly conserved U2 small nuclear RNA structures and Prp5p, Prp9p, Prp11p, and Prp21p proteins are required to ensure integrity of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Binding of U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) to the pre-mRNA is an early and important step in spliceosome assembly. We searched for evidence of cooperative function between yeast U2 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and several genetically identified splicing (Prp) proteins required for the first chemical step of splicing, using the phenotype of synthetic lethality. We constructed yeast strains with pairwise combinations of 28 different U2 alleles with 10 prp mutations and found lethal double-mutant combinations with prp5, -9, -11, and -21 but not with prp3, -4, -8, or -19. Many U2 mutations in highly conserved or invariant RNA structures show no phenotype in a wild-type PRP background but render mutant prp strains inviable, suggesting that the conserved but dispensable U2 elements are essential for efficient cooperative function with specific Prp proteins. Mutant U2 snRNA fails to accumulate in synthetic lethal strains, demonstrating that interaction between U2 RNA and these four Prp proteins contributes to U2 snRNP assembly or stability. Three of the proteins (Prp9p, Prp11p, and Prp21p) are associated with each other and pre-mRNA in U2-dependent splicing complexes in vitro and bind specifically to synthetic U2 snRNA added to crude splicing extracts depleted of endogenous U2 snRNPs. Taken together, the results suggest that Prp9p, -11p, and -21p are U2 snRNP proteins that interact with a structured region including U2 stem loop IIa and mediate the association of the U2 snRNP with pre-mRNA.     

Splicing factor Prp8 governs U4/U6 RNA unwinding during activation of the spliceosome

The pre-mRNA 5' splice site is recognized by the ACAGA box of U6 spliceosomal RNA prior to catalysis of splicing. We previously identified a mutant U4 spliceosomal RNA, U4-cs1, that masks the ACAGA box in the U4/U6 complex, thus conferring a cold-sensitive splicing phenotype in vivo. Here, we show that U4-cs1 blocks in vitro splicing in a temperature-dependent, reversible manner. Analysis of splicing complexes that accumulate at low temperature shows that U4-cs1 prevents U4/U6 unwinding, an essential step in spliceosome activation. A novel mutation in the evolutionarily conserved U5 snRNP protein Prp8 suppresses the U4-cs1 growth defect. We propose that wild-type Prp8 triggers unwinding of U4 and U6 RNAs only after structurally correct recognition of the 5' splice site by the U6 ACAGA box and that the mutation (prp8-201) relaxes control of unwinding.     

Extragenic Suppressors of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Prp4 Mutations Identify a Negative Regulator of Prp Genes

The PRP4 gene encodes a protein that is a component of the U4/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle and is necessary for both spliceosome assembly and pre-mRNA splicing. To identify genes whose products interact with the PRP4 gene or gene product, we isolated second-site suppressors of temperature-sensitive prp4 mutations. We limited ourselves to suppressors with a distinct phenotype, cold sensitivity, to facilitate analysis of mutants. Ten independent recessive suppressors were obtained that identified four complementation groups, spp41, spp42, spp43 and spp44 (suppressor of prp4, numbers 1-4). spp41-spp44 suppress the pre-mRNA splicing defect as well as the temperature-sensitive phenotype of prp4 strains. Each of these spp mutations also suppresses prp3; spp41 and spp42 suppress prp11 as well. Neither spp41 nor spp42 suppresses null alleles of prp3 or prp4, indicating that the suppression does not occur via a bypass mechanism. The spp41 and spp42 mutations are neither allele- nor gene-specific in their pattern of suppression and do not result in a defect in pre-mRNA splicing. Thus the SPP41 and SPP42 gene products are unlikely to participate directly in mRNA splicing or interact directly with Prp3p or Prp4p. Expression of PRP3-lacZ and PRP4-lacZ gene fusions is increased in spp41 strains, suggesting that wild-type Spp41p represses expression of PRP3 and PRP4. SPP41 was cloned and sequenced and found to be essential. spp43 is allelic to the previously identified suppressor srn1, which encodes a negative regulator of gene expression.     

An extragenic suppressor ofprp24-1 defines genetic interaction betweenPRP24 andPRP21 gene products ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

The temperature-sensitiveprp24-1 mutation defines a gene product required for the first step in pre-mRNA splicing. PRP24 is probably a component of the U6 snRNP particle. We have applied genetic reversion analysis to identify proteins that interact with PRP24. Spontaneous revertants of the temperaturesensitive (ts)prp24-1 phenotype were analyzed for those that are due to extragenic suppression. We then extended our analysis to screen for suppressors that confer a distinct conditional phenotype. We have identified a temperature-sensitive extragenic suppressor, which was shown by genetic complementation analysis to be allelic toprp21-1. This suppressor,prp21-2, accumulates pre-mRNA at the non-permissive temperature, a phenotype similar to that ofprp21-1. prp21-2 completely suppresses the splicing defect and restores in vivo levels of the U6 snRNA in theprp24-1 strain. Genetic analysis of the suppressor showed thatprp21-2 is not a bypass suppressor ofprp24-1. The suppression ofprp24-1 byprp21-2 is gene specific and also allele specific with respect to both the loci. Genetic interactions with other components of the pre-spliceosome have also been studied. Our results indicate an interaction between PRP21, a component of the U2 snRNP, and PRP24, a component of the U6 snRNP. These results substantiate other data showing U2–U6 snRNA interactions.     

An extragenic suppressor ofprp24-1 defines genetic interaction betweenPRP24 andPRP21 gene products ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

The temperature-sensitiveprp24-1 mutation defines a gene product required for the first step in pre-mRNA splicing. PRP24 is probably a component of the U6 snRNP particle. We have applied genetic reversion analysis to identify proteins that interact with PRP24. Spontaneous revertants of the temperaturesensitive (ts)prp24-1 phenotype were analyzed for those that are due to extragenic suppression. We then extended our analysis to screen for suppressors that confer a distinct conditional phenotype. We have identified a temperature-sensitive extragenic suppressor, which was shown by genetic complementation analysis to be allelic toprp21-1. This suppressor,prp21-2, accumulates pre-mRNA at the non-permissive temperature, a phenotype similar to that ofprp21-1. prp21-2 completely suppresses the splicing defect and restores in vivo levels of the U6 snRNA in theprp24-1 strain. Genetic analysis of the suppressor showed thatprp21-2 is not a bypass suppressor ofprp24-1. The suppression ofprp24-1 byprp21-2 is gene specific and also allele specific with respect to both the loci. Genetic interactions with other components of the pre-spliceosome have also been studied. Our results indicate an interaction between PRP21, a component of the U2 snRNP, and PRP24, a component of the U6 snRNP. These results substantiate other data showing U2–U6 snRNA interactions.     

Biochemical and genetic analyses of the U5, U6, and U4/U6 x U5 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have purified the yeast U5 and U6 pre-mRNA splicing small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) by affinity chromatography and analyzed the associated polypeptides by mass spectrometry. The yeast U5 snRNP is composed of the two variants of U5 snRNA, six U5-specific proteins and the 7 proteins of the canonical Sm core. The U6 snRNP is composed of the U6 snRNA, Prp24, and the 7 Sm-Like (LSM) proteins. Surprisingly, the yeast DEAD-box helicase-like protein Prp28 is stably associated with the U5 snRNP, yet is absent from the purified U4/U6 x U5 snRNP. A novel yeast U5 and four novel yeast U4/U6 x U5 snRNP polypeptides were characterized by genetic and biochemical means to demonstrate their involvement in the pre-mRNA splicing reaction. We also show that, unlike the human tri-snRNP, the yeast tri-snRNP dissociated upon addition of ATP or dATP.     

The splicing factor Prp17 interacts with the U2, U5 and U6 snRNPs and associates with the spliceosome pre- and post-catalysis

Saccharomyces cerevisiae PRP17-null mutants are temperature-sensitive for growth. In vitro splicing with extracts lacking Prp17 are kinetically slow for the first step of splicing and are arrested for the second step at temperatures greater than 34 degrees C. In the present study we show that these stalled spliceosomes are compromised for an essential conformational switch that is triggered by Prp16 helicase. These results suggest a plausible mechanistic basis for the second-step arrest in prp17Delta extracts and support a role for Prp17 in conjunction with Prp16. To understand the association of Prp17 with spliceosomes we used a functional epitope-tagged protein in co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Examination of co-precipitated snRNAs (small nuclear RNAs) show that Prp17 interacts with U2, U5 and U6 snRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoproteins) but it is not a core component of any one snRNP. Prp17 association with in-vitro-assembled spliceosome complexes on actin pre-mRNAs was also investigated. Although the U5 snRNP proteins Prp8 and Snu114 are found in early pre-spliceosomes that contain all five snRNPs, Prp17 is not detectable at this step; however, Prp17 is present in the subsequent pre-catalytic A1 complex, containing unspliced pre-mRNA, formed after the dissociation of U4 snRNP. Thus Prp17 joins the spliceosome prior to both catalytic reactions. Our results indicate continued interactions in catalytic spliceosomes that contain reaction intermediates and in post-splicing complexes containing the lariat intron. These Prp17-spliceosome association analyses provide a biochemical basis for the delayed first step in prp17Delta and explain the previously known multiple genetic interactions between Prp17, factors of the Prp19-complex [NTC (nineteen complex)], functional elements in U2 and U5 snRNAs and other second-step splicing factors.     

Prp31p promotes the association of the U4/U6 x U5 tri-snRNP with prespliceosomes to form spliceosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The PRP31 gene encodes a factor essential for the splicing of pre-mRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cell extracts derived from a prp31-1 strain fail to form mature spliceosomes upon heat inactivation, although commitment complexes and prespliceosome complexes are detected under these conditions. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicate that Prp31p is associated both with the U4/U6 x U5 tri-snRNP and, independently, with the prespliceosome prior to assembly of the tri-snRNP into the splicing complex. Nondenaturing gel electrophoresis and glycerol gradient analyses demonstrate that while Prp31p may play a role in maintaining the assembly or stability of tri-snRNPs, functional protein is not essential for the formation of U4/U6 or U4/U6 x U5 snRNPs. These results suggest that Prp31p is involved in recruiting the U4/U6 x U5 tri-snRNP to prespliceosome complexes or in stabilizing these interactions.     

Roles of PRP8 protein in the assembly of splicing complexes.

Three different approaches have been used to investigate the roles of the yeast U5 snRNP protein PRP8 in spliceosome assembly: genetic depletion of PRP8 protein in vivo, heat inactivation of temperature-sensitive prp8 protein in protoplasts and inhibition of PRP8 function with antibodies in vitro. In each case, U5 and U4/U6 snRNPs failed to assemble into the forming spliceosomes. In addition, extract prepared from PRP8-depleted cells and extract containing inactivated PRP8 protein had substantially reduced amounts of U4/U6.U5 triple snRNP complexes. Thus, functional PRP8 protein is required for the stable formation of U4/U6.U5 complexes without which spliceosomes fail to form. As spliceosome formation was also blocked by anti-PRP8 antibodies that apparently do not disrupt triple snRNPs, PRP8 protein may play a separate role in the assembly of triple snRNPs into spliceosomes. As a consequence of PRP8 depletion the levels of the U4, U5 and U6 snRNAs declined dramatically. We discuss this in the context of the known genetic interactions between PRP8 and putative RNA helicase (DEAD box protein) genes and propose that PRP8 protein plays a role in regulating dynamic RNA-RNA interactions in spliceosome assembly, possibly ensuring the correct directionality of these events.     

Six novel genes necessary for pre-mRNA splicing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have identified six new genes whose products are necessary for the splicing of nuclear pre-mRNA in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A collection of 426 temperature-sensitive yeast strains was generated by EMS mutagenesis. These mutants were screened for pre-mRNA splicing defects by an RNA gel blot assay, using the intron- containing CRY1 and ACT1 genes as hybridization probes. We identified 20 temperature-sensitive mutants defective in pre-mRNA splicing. Twelve appear to be allelic to the previously identified prp2, prp3, prp6, prp16/prp23, prp18, prp19 or prp26 mutations that cause defects in spliceosome assembly or the first or second step of splicing. One is allelic to SNR14 encoding U4 snRNA. Six new complementation groups, prp29-prp34, were identified. Each of these mutants accumulates unspliced pre-mRNA at 37 degrees C and thus is blocked in spliceosome assembly or early steps of pre-mRNA splicing before the first cleavage and ligation reaction. The prp29 mutation is suppressed by multicopy PRP2 and displays incomplete patterns of complementation with prp2 alleles, suggesting that the PRP29 gene product may interact with that of PRP2. There are now at least 42 different gene products, including the five spliceosomal snRNAs and 37 different proteins that are necessary for pre-mRNA splicing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, the number of yeast genes identifiable by this approach has not yet been exhausted.     

The molecular characterization of PRP6 and PRP9 yeast genes reveals a new cysteine/histidine motif common to several splicing factors.

prp6 and prp9 thermosensitive (ts) mutants are affected in pre-mRNA splicing and transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. PRP6 and PRP9 wild-type alleles have been sequenced. DNA sequence analysis reveals homologies in the 5' and 3' non-coding regions, suggesting a common regulation of gene expression. PRP6 and PRP9 genes encode a 899 amino acid and a 530 amino acid protein, respectively. The PRP6 protein has repeated motifs that evoke helix-loop-helix structures. Both PRP6 and PRP9 proteins have cysteine/histidine motifs loosely related to those found in zinc finger proteins. The substitution of some, but not all, of these residues by directed mutagenesis has a critical effect on the protein function. Homology searches reveal that two other proteins known to be involved in the nuclear splicing pathway--the yeast PRP11 and the human U1C proteins--contain similar sequences. The five cysteine/histidine motifs found in these four proteins display amino acid similarities in addition to the cysteine and histidine residues, indicating that they participate in biological structures or functions related to the splicing process. In addition, PRP6 and PRP9 exhibit leucine repeat motifs which may be implicated in protein interactions. The prp6 and prp9 ts mutations have been mapped and sequenced.     

U4 small nuclear RNA dissociates from a yeast spliceosome and does not participate in the subsequent splicing reaction.

U4 and U6 small nuclear RNAs reside in a single ribonucleoprotein particle, and both are required for pre-mRNA splicing. The U4/U6 and U5 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins join U1 and U2 on the pre-mRNA during spliceosome assembly. Binding of U4 is then destabilized prior to or concomitant with the 5' cleavage-ligation. In order to test the role of U4 RNA, we isolated a functional spliceosome by using extracts prepared from yeast cells carrying a temperature-sensitive allele of prp2 (rna2). The isolated prp2 delta spliceosome contains U2, U5, U6, and possibly also U1 and can be activated to splice the bound pre-mRNA. U4 RNA does not associate with the isolated spliceosomes and is shown not to be involved in the subsequent cleavage-ligation reactions. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the role of U4 in pre-mRNA splicing is to deliver U6 to the spliceosome.     

The PRP4 (RNA4) protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is associated with the 5'' portion of the U4 small nuclear RNA.

We have combined oligonucleotide-directed RNase H degradation and immunoprecipitation in a study of the association of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PRP4 protein with the U4-U6 complex. We have found that three oligonucleotides were able to direct nearly to completion the RNase H-specific cleavage of the target RNA molecules as they exist in splicing extracts. Immunoprecipitation of the degradation products with PRP4 antibody showed that the 5' portion of U4 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and the 3' portion of U6 snRNA coimmunoprecipitated with the PRP4 protein. Micrococcal nuclease protection experiments confirmed further that the 5' portion and 3' end of U4 snRNA were very resistant to nuclease digestion, whereas the 3' portion of U6 snRNA was protected to only a very small extent. We conclude that the PRP4 protein of S. cerevisiae is associated primarily with the 5' portion of U4 snRNA in the U4-U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP).     

Myb-Related Fission Yeast cdc5p Is a Component of a 40S snRNP-Containing Complex and Is Essential for Pre-mRNA Splicing

Myb-related cdc5p is required for G(2)/M progression in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We report here that all detectable cdc5p is stably associated with a multiprotein 40S complex. Immunoaffinity purification has allowed the identification of 10 cwf (complexed with cdc5p) proteins. Two (cwf6p and cwf10p) are members of the U5 snRNP; one (cwf9p) is a core snRNP protein. cwf8p is the apparent ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae splicing factor Prp19p. cwf1(+) is allelic to the prp5(+) gene defined by the S. pombe splicing mutant, prp5-1, and there is a strong negative genetic interaction between cdc5-120 and prp5-1. Five cwfs have not been recognized previously as important for either pre-mRNA splicing or cell cycle control. Further characterization of cwf1p, cwf2p, cwf3p, and cwf4p demonstrates that they are encoded by essential genes, cosediment with cdc5p at 40S, and coimmunoprecipitate with cdc5p. We further show that cdc5p associates with the U2, U5, and U6 snRNAs and that cells lacking cdc5(+) function are defective in pre-mRNA splicing. These data raise the possibility that the cdc5p complex is an intermediate in the assembly or disassembly of an active S. pombe spliceosome.