cDNA structure, alternative splicing and exon-intron organization of the predisposing tuberous sclerosis (Tsc2) gene of the Eker rat model.

The Eker rat hereditary renal carcinoma (RC) is an excellent example of a Mendelian dominant predisposition to a specific cancer in an experimental animal. We recently reported that a germline insertion in the rat homologue of the human tuberous sclerosis gene (TSC2) gives rise to the dominantly inherited cancer in the Eker rat model. We now describe the entire cDNA (5375 bp without exons 25 and 31) and genomic structure of the rat Tsc2 gene. The deduced amino acid sequence (1743 amino acids) shows 92% identity to the human counterpart. Surprisingly, there are a great many (> or = 41) coding exons with small sized introns spanning only approximately 35 kb of genomic DNA. Two alternative splicing events [involving exons 25 (129 bp) and 31 (69 bp)] make for a complex diversity of the Tsc2 product. The present determination of the Tsc2 gene and establishment of strong conservation between the rat and man provide clues for assessing unknown gene functions apart from that already predicted from the GTPase activating proteins (GAP3) homologous domain and for future analysis of intragenic mutations in tumors using methods such as PCR-SSCP and for insights into diverse phenotypes between species.     

染色质结构与mRNA可变剪接

mRNA的可变剪接(alternative splicing)是一种由一个mRNA前体(pre-mRNA)通过不同的剪接方式产生多个mRNA变异体(variants)的RNA加工过程。在过去很长一段时间里,人们认为mRNA剪接过程是独立于转录过程的一个转录后RNA加工过程。然而,越来越多的实验证明mRNA剪接在很大程度上是与转录偶联发生的。因此,剪接调控会受到与转录相关因素的调控。本文将对染色质与mRNA剪接调控的相关性和染色质结构调控可变剪接的分子机制进行阐述。     

Genomic structure and alternative splicing of chicken angiopoietin-2

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) prevents endothelial cell apoptosis and promotes blood vessel stability, while angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), a natural antagonist of Ang-1, disrupts blood vessel structure and induces apoptosis. We have sequenced the chicken angiopoietin-2 gene that spans about 46 kb of DNA and is split in 9 exons by 8 introns. Alternative splicing of the gene gives rise to three different species of Ang-2 mRNAs: Ang-2A, Ang-2B, and Ang-2C. The three mRNA isoforms, also present in humans, codify for proteins with an identical fibrinogen-like C-terminal domain and a different coiled-coil N-terminal domain. Ang-2A and particularly Ang-2C are expressed in immature testis and regressed adult testis undergoing vascular remodeling, while their expression is barely detectable in quiescent adult testis. Conversely, Ang-2B is only detectable in adult testis. The new isoforms with truncated amino-terminal domains may modulate the Tie2 receptor during vascular angiogenesis and regression.     

hnRNP A1 and secondary structure coordinate alternative splicing of Mag

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is a major component of myelin in the vertebrate central nervous system. MAG is present in the periaxonal region of the myelin structure, where it interacts with neuronal proteins to inhibit axon outgrowth and protect neurons from degeneration. Two alternatively spliced isoforms of Mag mRNA have been identified. The mRNA encoding the shorter isoform, known as S-MAG, contains a termination codon in exon 12, while the mRNA encoding the longer isoform, known as L-MAG, skips exon 12 and produces a protein with a longer C-terminal region. L-MAG is required in the central nervous system. How inclusion of Mag exon 12 is regulated is not clear. In a previous study, we showed that heteronuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) contributes to Mag exon 12 skipping. Here, we show that hnRNP A1 interacts with an element that overlaps the 5′ splice site of Mag exon 12. The element has a reduced ability to interact with the U1 snRNP compared with a mutant that improves the splice site consensus. An evolutionarily conserved secondary structure is present surrounding the element. The structure modulates interaction with both hnRNP A1 and U1. Analysis of splice isoforms produced from a series of reporter constructs demonstrates that the hnRNP A1-binding site and the secondary structure both contribute to exclusion of Mag exon 12.     

Regulation of neurexin 1beta tertiary structure and ligand binding through alternative splicing

Neurexins and neuroligins play an essential role in synapse function, and their alterations are linked to autistic spectrum disorder. Interactions between neurexins and neuroligins regulate inhibitory and excitatory synaptogenesis in vitro through a "splice-insert signaling code." In particular, neurexin 1beta carrying an alternative splice insert at site SS#4 interacts with neuroligin 2 (found predominantly at inhibitory synapses) but much less so with other neuroligins (those carrying an insert at site B and prevalent at excitatory synapses). The structure of neurexin 1beta+SS#4 reveals dramatic rearrangements to the "hypervariable surface," the binding site for neuroligins. The splice insert protrudes as a long helix into space, triggers conversion of loop beta10-beta11 into a helix rearranging the binding site for neuroligins, and rearranges the Ca(2+)-binding site required for ligand binding, increasing its affinity. Our structures reveal the mechanism by which neurexin 1beta isoforms acquire neuroligin splice isoform selectivity.     

Functions, structure, and read-through alternative splicing of feline APOBEC3 genes

Background

Over the past years a variety of host restriction genes have been identified in human and mammals that modulate retrovirus infectivity, replication, assembly, and/or cross-species transmission. Among these host-encoded restriction factors, the APOBEC3 (A3; apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing catalytic polypeptide 3) proteins are potent inhibitors of retroviruses and retrotransposons. While primates encode seven of these genes (A3A to A3H), rodents carry only a single A3 gene.

Results

Here we identified and characterized several A3 genes in the genome of domestic cat (Felis catus) by analyzing the genomic A3 locus. The cat genome presents one A3H gene and three very similar A3C genes (a-c), probably generated after two consecutive gene duplications. In addition to these four one-domain A3 proteins, a fifth A3, designated A3CH, is expressed by read-through alternative splicing. Specific feline A3 proteins selectively inactivated only defined genera of feline retroviruses: Bet-deficient feline foamy virus was mainly inactivated by feA3Ca, feA3Cb, and feA3Cc, while feA3H and feA3CH were only weakly active. The infectivity of Vif-deficient feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus was reduced only by feA3H and feA3CH, but not by any of the feA3Cs. Within Felidae, A3C sequences show significant adaptive selection, but unexpectedly, the A3H sequences present more sites that are under purifying selection.

Conclusion

Our data support a complex evolutionary history of expansion, divergence, selection and individual extinction of antiviral A3 genes that parallels the early evolution of Placentalia, becoming more intricate in taxa in which the arms race between host and retroviruses is harsher.     

Human growth hormone DNA sequence and mRNA structure: possible alternative splicing.

We have determined the complete sequence of the human growth hormone (hGH) gene and the position of the mature 5' end of the hGH mRNA within the sequence. Comparison of this sequence with that of a cloned hGH cDNA shows that the gene is interrupted by four intervening sequences. S1 mapping shows that one of these intervening sequences has two different 3' splice sites. These alternate splicing pathways generate hGH peptides of different sizes which are found in normal pituitaries. Comparison of sequences near the 5' end of the hGH mRNA with a similar region of the alpha subunit of the human glycoprotein hormones reveals an unexpected region of homology between these otherwise unrelated peptide hormones.     

Bioinformatics analysis of alternative splicing

Over the past few years, the analysis of alternative splicing using bioinformatics has emerged as an important new field, and has significantly changed our view of genome function. One exciting front has been the analysis of microarray data to measure alternative splicing genome-wide. Pioneering studies of both human and mouse data have produced algorithms for discerning evidence of alternative splicing and clustering genes and samples by their alternative splicing patterns. Moreover, these data indicate the presence of alternative splice forms in up to 80 per cent of human genes. Comparative genomics studies in both mammals and insects have demonstrated that alternative splicing can in some cases be predicted directly from comparisons of genome sequences, based on heightened sequence conservation and exon length. Such studies have also provided new insights into the connection between alternative splicing and a variety of evolutionary processes such as Alu-based exonisation, exon creation and loss. A number of groups have used a combination of bioinformatics, comparative genomics and experimental validation to identify new motifs for splice regulatory factors, analyse the balance of factors that regulate alternative splicing, and propose a new mechanism for regulation based on the interaction of alternative splicing and nonsense-mediated decay. Bioinformatics studies of the functional impact of alternative splicing have revealed a wide range of regulatory mechanisms, from NAGNAG sites that add a single amino acid; to short peptide segments that can play surprisingly complex roles in switching protein conformation and function (as in the Piccolo C2A domain); to events that entirely remove a specific protein interaction domain or membrane anchoring domain. Common to many bioinformatics studies is a new emphasis on graph representations of alternative splicing structures, which have many advantages for analysis.