1
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Giudice J, Jiang H. Splicing regulation through biomolecular condensates and membraneless organelles. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00739-7. [PMID: 38773325 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00739-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates, sometimes also known as membraneless organelles (MLOs), can form through weak multivalent intermolecular interactions of proteins and nucleic acids, a process often associated with liquid-liquid phase separation. Biomolecular condensates are emerging as sites and regulatory platforms of vital cellular functions, including transcription and RNA processing. In the first part of this Review, we comprehensively discuss how alternative splicing regulates the formation and properties of condensates, and conversely the roles of biomolecular condensates in splicing regulation. In the second part, we focus on the spatial connection between splicing regulation and nuclear MLOs such as transcriptional condensates, splicing condensates and nuclear speckles. We then discuss key studies showing how splicing regulation through biomolecular condensates is implicated in human pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases, different types of cancer, developmental disorders and cardiomyopathies, and conclude with a discussion of outstanding questions pertaining to the roles of condensates and MLOs in splicing regulation and how to experimentally study them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Giudice
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- McAllister Heart Institute, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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2
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Rawat C, Heemers HV. Alternative splicing in prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Oncogene 2024; 43:1655-1668. [PMID: 38658776 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03036-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (CaP) remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in western men. CaP mortality results from diverse molecular mechanisms that mediate resistance to the standard of care treatments for metastatic disease. Recently, alternative splicing has been recognized as a hallmark of CaP aggressiveness. Alternative splicing events cause treatment resistance and aggressive CaP behavior and are determinants of the emergence of the two major types of late-stage treatment-resistant CaP, namely castration-resistant CaP (CRPC) and neuroendocrine CaP (NEPC). Here, we review recent multi-omics data that are uncovering the complicated landscape of alternative splicing events during CaP progression and the impact that different gene transcript isoforms can have on CaP cell biology and behavior. We discuss renewed insights in the molecular machinery by which alternative splicing occurs and contributes to the failure of systemic CaP therapies. The potential for alternative splicing events to serve as diagnostic markers and/or therapeutic targets is explored. We conclude by considering current challenges and promises associated with splicing-modulating therapies, and their potential for clinical translation into CaP patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitra Rawat
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Hannelore V Heemers
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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3
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Bouton L, Ecoutin A, Malard F, Campagne S. Small molecules modulating RNA splicing: a review of targets and future perspectives. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:1109-1126. [PMID: 38665842 PMCID: PMC11042171 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00685a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, RNA splicing is crucial for gene expression. Dysregulation of this process can result in incorrect mRNA processing, leading to aberrant gene expression patterns. Such abnormalities are implicated in many inherited diseases and cancers. Historically, antisense oligonucleotides, which bind to specific RNA targets, have been used to correct these splicing abnormalities. Despite their high specificity of action, these oligonucleotides have drawbacks, such as lack of oral bioavailability and the need for chemical modifications to enhance cellular uptake and stability. As a result, recent efforts focused on the development of small organic molecules that can correct abnormal RNA splicing event under disease conditions. This review discusses known and potential targets of these molecules, including RNA structures, trans-acting splicing factors, and the spliceosome - the macromolecular complex responsible for RNA splicing. We also rely on recent advances to discuss therapeutic applications of RNA-targeting small molecules in splicing correction. Overall, this review presents an update on strategies for RNA splicing modulation, emphasizing the therapeutic promise of small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Bouton
- Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR5320, ARNA Laboratory, University of Bordeaux 146 rue Léo Saignat 33076 Bordeaux Cedex France
- Institut Européen de Chimie et de Biologie F-33600 Pessac France
| | - Agathe Ecoutin
- Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR5320, ARNA Laboratory, University of Bordeaux 146 rue Léo Saignat 33076 Bordeaux Cedex France
- Institut Européen de Chimie et de Biologie F-33600 Pessac France
| | - Florian Malard
- Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR5320, ARNA Laboratory, University of Bordeaux 146 rue Léo Saignat 33076 Bordeaux Cedex France
- Institut Européen de Chimie et de Biologie F-33600 Pessac France
| | - Sébastien Campagne
- Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR5320, ARNA Laboratory, University of Bordeaux 146 rue Léo Saignat 33076 Bordeaux Cedex France
- Institut Européen de Chimie et de Biologie F-33600 Pessac France
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4
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Maninger JK, Nowak K, Goberdhan S, O'Donoghue R, Connor-Robson N. Cell type-specific functions of Alzheimer's disease endocytic risk genes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220378. [PMID: 38368934 PMCID: PMC10874703 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Endocytosis is a key cellular pathway required for the internalization of cellular nutrients, lipids and receptor-bound cargoes. It is also critical for the recycling of cellular components, cellular trafficking and membrane dynamics. The endocytic pathway has been consistently implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) through repeated genome-wide association studies and the existence of rare coding mutations in endocytic genes. BIN1 and PICALM are two of the most significant late-onset AD risk genes after APOE and are both key to clathrin-mediated endocytic biology. Pathological studies also demonstrate that endocytic dysfunction is an early characteristic of late-onset AD, being seen in the prodromal phase of the disease. Different cell types of the brain have specific requirements of the endocytic pathway. Neurons require efficient recycling of synaptic vesicles and microglia use the specialized form of endocytosis-phagocytosis-for their normal function. Therefore, disease-associated changes in endocytic genes will have varied impacts across different cell types, which remains to be fully explored. Given the genetic and pathological evidence for endocytic dysfunction in AD, understanding how such changes and the related cell type-specific vulnerabilities impact normal cellular function and contribute to disease is vital and could present novel therapeutic opportunities. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Understanding the endo-lysosomal network in neurodegeneration'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karolina Nowak
- Cardiff University, Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff University¸ Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Srilakshmi Goberdhan
- Cardiff University, Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff University¸ Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Rachel O'Donoghue
- Cardiff University, Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff University¸ Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Natalie Connor-Robson
- Cardiff University, Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff University¸ Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
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5
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Levillayer L, Brighelli C, Demeret C, Sakuntabhai A, Bureau JF. Role of two modules controlling the interaction between SKAP1 and SRC kinases comparison with SKAP2 architecture and consequences for evolution. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296230. [PMID: 38483858 PMCID: PMC10939263 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
SRC kinase associated phosphoprotein 1 (SKAP1), an adaptor for protein assembly, plays an important role in the immune system such as stabilizing immune synapses. Understanding how these functions are controlled at the level of the protein-protein interactions is necessary to describe these processes and to develop therapeutics. Here, we dissected the SKAP1 modular organization to recognize SRC kinases and compared it to that of its paralog SRC kinase associated phosphoprotein 2 (SKAP2). Different conserved motifs common to either both proteins or specific to SKAP2 were found using this comparison. Two modules harboring different binding properties between SKAP1 and SKAP2 were identified: one composed of two conserved motifs located in the second interdomain interacting at least with the SH2 domain of SRC kinases and a second one composed of the DIM domain modulated by the SH3 domain and the activation of SRC kinases. This work suggests a convergent evolution of the binding properties of some SRC kinases interacting specifically with either SKAP1 or SKAP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurine Levillayer
- Institut Pasteur, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR 2000, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) USC 1510, Unité Écologie et Émergence des Pathogènes Transmis par les Arthropodes (EEPTA), Paris, France
| | - Camille Brighelli
- Institut Pasteur, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR 2000, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) USC 1510, Unité Écologie et Émergence des Pathogènes Transmis par les Arthropodes (EEPTA), Paris, France
| | - Caroline Demeret
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, Laboratoire Interactomique, ARN et Immunité ‐ Interactomics, RNA and Immunity, Paris, France
| | - Anavaj Sakuntabhai
- Institut Pasteur, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR 2000, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) USC 1510, Unité Écologie et Émergence des Pathogènes Transmis par les Arthropodes (EEPTA), Paris, France
| | - Jean-François Bureau
- Institut Pasteur, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, Université de Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR 2000, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) USC 1510, Unité Écologie et Émergence des Pathogènes Transmis par les Arthropodes (EEPTA), Paris, France
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6
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Pandi B, Brenman S, Black A, Ng DCM, Lau E, Lam MPY. Tissue Usage Preference and Intrinsically Disordered Region Remodeling of Alternative Splicing Derived Proteoforms in the Heart. J Proteome Res 2024. [PMID: 38456420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
A computational analysis of mass spectrometry data was performed to uncover alternative splicing derived protein variants across chambers of the human heart. Evidence for 216 non-canonical isoforms was apparent in the atrium and the ventricle, including 52 isoforms not documented on SwissProt and recovered using an RNA sequencing derived database. Among non-canonical isoforms, 29 show signs of regulation based on statistically significant preferences in tissue usage, including a ventricular enriched protein isoform of tensin-1 (TNS1) and an atrium-enriched PDZ and LIM Domain 3 (PDLIM3) isoform 2 (PDLIM3-2/ALP-H). Examined variant regions that differ between alternative and canonical isoforms are highly enriched with intrinsically disordered regions. Moreover, over two-thirds of such regions are predicted to function in protein binding and RNA binding. The analysis here lends further credence to the notion that alternative splicing diversifies the proteome by rewiring intrinsically disordered regions, which are increasingly recognized to play important roles in the generation of biological function from protein sequences.
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7
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Werren EA, LaForce GR, Srivastava A, Perillo DR, Li S, Johnson K, Baris S, Berger B, Regan SL, Pfennig CD, de Munnik S, Pfundt R, Hebbar M, Jimenez-Heredia R, Karakoc-Aydiner E, Ozen A, Dmytrus J, Krolo A, Corning K, Prijoles EJ, Louie RJ, Lebel RR, Le TL, Amiel J, Gordon CT, Boztug K, Girisha KM, Shukla A, Bielas SL, Schaffer AE. TREX tetramer disruption alters RNA processing necessary for corticogenesis in THOC6 Intellectual Disability Syndrome. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1640. [PMID: 38388531 PMCID: PMC10884030 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45948-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
THOC6 variants are the genetic basis of autosomal recessive THOC6 Intellectual Disability Syndrome (TIDS). THOC6 is critical for mammalian Transcription Export complex (TREX) tetramer formation, which is composed of four six-subunit THO monomers. The TREX tetramer facilitates mammalian RNA processing, in addition to the nuclear mRNA export functions of the TREX dimer conserved through yeast. Human and mouse TIDS model systems revealed novel THOC6-dependent, species-specific TREX tetramer functions. Germline biallelic Thoc6 loss-of-function (LOF) variants result in mouse embryonic lethality. Biallelic THOC6 LOF variants reduce the binding affinity of ALYREF to THOC5 without affecting the protein expression of TREX members, implicating impaired TREX tetramer formation. Defects in RNA nuclear export functions were not detected in biallelic THOC6 LOF human neural cells. Instead, mis-splicing was detected in human and mouse neural tissue, revealing novel THOC6-mediated TREX coordination of mRNA processing. We demonstrate that THOC6 is required for key signaling pathways known to regulate the transition from proliferative to neurogenic divisions during human corticogenesis. Together, these findings implicate altered RNA processing in the developmental biology of TIDS neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Werren
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Advanced Precision Medicine Laboratory, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Geneva R LaForce
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Anshika Srivastava
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Medical Genetics, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226014, India
| | - Delia R Perillo
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Shaokun Li
- Advanced Precision Medicine Laboratory, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Katherine Johnson
- Advanced Precision Medicine Laboratory, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Safa Baris
- Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies, The Isil Berat Barlan Center for Translational Medicine, Istanbul, 34722, Turkey
| | - Brandon Berger
- Advanced Precision Medicine Laboratory, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Samantha L Regan
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Christian D Pfennig
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Sonja de Munnik
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, 6524, the Netherlands
| | - Rolph Pfundt
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, 6524, the Netherlands
| | - Malavika Hebbar
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, 98195, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Raúl Jimenez-Heredia
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Elif Karakoc-Aydiner
- Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies, The Isil Berat Barlan Center for Translational Medicine, Istanbul, 34722, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Ozen
- Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic and Research Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies, The Isil Berat Barlan Center for Translational Medicine, Istanbul, 34722, Turkey
| | - Jasmin Dmytrus
- Research Centre for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Ana Krolo
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Ken Corning
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA
| | - E J Prijoles
- Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA
| | | | - Robert Roger Lebel
- Section of Medical Genetics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Thuy-Linh Le
- Imagine Institute, INSERM U1163, Paris Cité University, Paris, 75015, France
| | - Jeanne Amiel
- Imagine Institute, INSERM U1163, Paris Cité University, Paris, 75015, France
- Service de Médecine Génomique des Maladies Rares, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, 75015, France
| | | | - Kaan Boztug
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- Research Centre for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- St. Anna Children's Hospital and Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Katta M Girisha
- Department of Medical Genetics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Anju Shukla
- Department of Medical Genetics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Stephanie L Bielas
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Ashleigh E Schaffer
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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Roth JF, Braunschweig U, Wu M, Li JD, Lin ZY, Larsen B, Weatheritt RJ, Gingras AC, Blencowe BJ. Systematic analysis of alternative exon-dependent interactome remodeling reveals multitasking functions of gene regulatory factors. Mol Cell 2023; 83:4222-4238.e10. [PMID: 38065061 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing significantly expands biological complexity, particularly in the vertebrate nervous system. Increasing evidence indicates that developmental and tissue-dependent alternative exons often control protein-protein interactions; yet, only a minor fraction of these events have been characterized. Using affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS), we show that approximately 60% of analyzed neural-differential exons in proteins previously implicated in transcriptional regulation result in the gain or loss of interaction partners, which in some cases form unexpected links with coupled processes. Notably, a neural exon in Chtop regulates its interaction with the Prmt1 methyltransferase and DExD-Box helicases Ddx39b/a, affecting its methylation and activity in promoting RNA export. Additionally, a neural exon in Sap30bp affects interactions with RNA processing factors, modulating a critical function of Sap30bp in promoting the splicing of <100 nt "mini-introns" that control nuclear RNA levels. AP-MS is thus a powerful approach for elucidating the multifaceted functions of proteins imparted by context-dependent alternative exons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan F Roth
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | | | - Mingkun Wu
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Jack Daiyang Li
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Zhen-Yuan Lin
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Brett Larsen
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Robert J Weatheritt
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; EMBL Australia, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Benjamin J Blencowe
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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9
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Kjer-Hansen P, Weatheritt RJ. The function of alternative splicing in the proteome: rewiring protein interactomes to put old functions into new contexts. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023; 30:1844-1856. [PMID: 38036695 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01155-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing affects more than 95% of multi-exon genes in the human genome. These changes affect the proteome in a myriad of ways. Here, we review our understanding of the breadth of these changes from their effect on protein structure to their influence on interactions. These changes encompass effects on nucleic acid binding in the nucleus to protein-carbohydrate interactions in the extracellular milieu, altering interactions involving all major classes of biological molecules. Protein isoforms have profound influences on cellular and tissue physiology, for example, by shaping neuronal connections, enhancing insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells and allowing for alternative viral defense strategies in stem cells. More broadly, alternative splicing enables repurposing proteins from one context to another and thereby contributes to both the evolution of new traits as well as the creation of disease-specific interactomes that drive pathological phenotypes. In this Review, we highlight this universal character of alternative splicing as a central regulator of protein function with implications for almost every biological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kjer-Hansen
- EMBL Australia, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
- St. Vincent Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Robert J Weatheritt
- EMBL Australia, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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10
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Leal Y, Valenzuela-Muñoz V, Gallardo-Escárate C. Alternative splicing in Atlantic salmon head kidney and SHK-1 cell line during the Piscirickettsia salmonis infection: A comparative transcriptome survey. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 142:109127. [PMID: 37813155 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Piscirickettsia salmonis, an intracellular bacterium in salmon aquaculture, is a big challenge because it is responsible for 54.2% of Atlantic salmon mortalities. In recent years, the high relevance of Alternative Splicing (AS) as a molecular mechanism associated with infectious conditions and host-pathogen interaction processes, especially in host immune activation, has been observed. Several studies have highlighted the role of AS in the host's immune response during viral, bacterial, and endoparasite infection. In the present study, we evaluated AS transcriptome profiles during P. salmonis infection in the two most used study models, SHK-1 cell line and salmon head kidney tissue. First, the SHK-1 cell line was exposed to P. salmonis infection at 0-, 7-, and 14-days post-infection (dpi). Following, total RNA was extracted for Illumina sequencing. On the other hand, RNA-Seq datasets of Atlantic salmon head kidney infected with the same P. salmonis strayingwase used. For both study models, the highest number of differentially alternative splicing (DAS) events was observed at 7 dpi, 16,830 DAS events derived from 9213 DAS genes in SHK-1 cells, and 13,820 DAS events from 7684 DAS genes in salmon HK. Alternative first exon (AF) was the most abundant AS type in the three infection times analyzed, representing 31% in SHK-1 cells and 228.6 in salmon HK; meanwhile, mutually exclusive exon (MX) was the least abundant. Notably, functional annotation of DAS genes in SHK-1 cells infected with P. salmonis showed a high presence of genes related to nucleotide metabolism. In contrast, the salmon head kidney exhibited many GO terms associated with immune response. Our findings reported the role of AS during P. salmonis infection in Atlantic salmon. These studies would contribute to a better understanding of the molecular bases that support the pathogen-host interaction, evidencing the contribution of AS regulating the transcriptional host response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeny Leal
- Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR), Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, 4030000, Chile
| | - Valentina Valenzuela-Muñoz
- Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR), Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, 4030000, Chile
| | - Cristian Gallardo-Escárate
- Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR), Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, 4030000, Chile.
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11
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Dam SH, Olsen LR, Vitting-Seerup K. Expression and splicing mediate distinct biological signals. BMC Biol 2023; 21:220. [PMID: 37858135 PMCID: PMC10588054 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01724-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Through alternative splicing, most human genes produce multiple isoforms in a cell-, tissue-, and disease-specific manner. Numerous studies show that alternative splicing is essential for development, diseases, and their treatments. Despite these important examples, the extent and biological relevance of splicing are currently unknown. RESULTS To solve this problem, we developed pairedGSEA and used it to profile transcriptional changes in 100 representative RNA-seq datasets. Our systematic analysis demonstrates that changes in splicing, on average, contribute to 48.1% of the biological signal in expression analyses. Gene-set enrichment analysis furthermore indicates that expression and splicing both convey shared and distinct biological signals. CONCLUSIONS These findings establish alternative splicing as a major regulator of the human condition and suggest that most contemporary RNA-seq studies likely miss out on critical biological insights. We anticipate our results will contribute to the transition from a gene-centric to an isoform-centric research paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Søren Helweg Dam
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lars Rønn Olsen
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kristoffer Vitting-Seerup
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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12
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Pandi B, Brenman S, Black A, Ng DCM, Lau E, Lam MPY. Tissue Usage Preference and Intrinsically Disordered Region Remodeling of Alternative Splicing Derived Proteoforms in the Heart. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.08.561375. [PMID: 37873130 PMCID: PMC10592692 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.08.561375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
A computational analysis of mass spectrometry data was performed to uncover alternative splicing derived protein variants across chambers of the human heart. Evidence for 216 non-canonical isoforms was apparent in the atrium and the ventricle, including 52 isoforms not documented on SwissProt and recovered using an RNA sequencing derived database. Among non-canonical isoforms, 29 show signs of regulation based on statistically significant preferences in tissue usage, including a ventricular enriched protein isoform of tensin-1 (TNS1) and an atrium-enriched PDZ and LIM Domain 3 (PDLIM3) isoform 2 (PDLIM3-2/ALP-H). Examined variant regions that differ between alternative and canonical isoforms are highly enriched in intrinsically disordered regions, and over two-thirds of such regions are predicted to function in protein binding and/or RNA binding. The analysis here lends further credence to the notion that alternative splicing diversifies the proteome by rewiring intrinsically disordered regions, which are increasingly recognized to play important roles in the generation of biological function from protein sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boomathi Pandi
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Stella Brenman
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Alexander Black
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Dominic C. M. Ng
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Edward Lau
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation (CFReT), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Maggie P. Y. Lam
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation (CFReT), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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13
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Goldtzvik Y, Sen N, Lam SD, Orengo C. Protein diversification through post-translational modifications, alternative splicing, and gene duplication. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 81:102640. [PMID: 37354790 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Proteins provide the basis for cellular function. Having multiple versions of the same protein within a single organism provides a way of regulating its activity or developing novel functions. Post-translational modifications of proteins, by means of adding/removing chemical groups to amino acids, allow for a well-regulated and controlled way of generating functionally distinct protein species. Alternative splicing is another method with which organisms possibly generate new isoforms. Additionally, gene duplication events throughout evolution generate multiple paralogs of the same genes, resulting in multiple versions of the same protein within an organism. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in the study of these three methods of protein diversification and provide illustrative examples of how they affect protein structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonathan Goldtzvik
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neeladri Sen
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom. https://twitter.com/@NeeladriSen
| | - Su Datt Lam
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Christine Orengo
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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14
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Bogaert A, Fijalkowska D, Staes A, Van de Steene T, Vuylsteke M, Stadler C, Eyckerman S, Spirohn K, Hao T, Calderwood MA, Gevaert K. N-terminal proteoforms may engage in different protein complexes. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202301972. [PMID: 37316325 PMCID: PMC10267514 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202301972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative translation initiation and alternative splicing may give rise to N-terminal proteoforms, proteins that differ at their N-terminus compared with their canonical counterparts. Such proteoforms can have altered localizations, stabilities, and functions. Although proteoforms generated from splice variants can be engaged in different protein complexes, it remained to be studied to what extent this applies to N-terminal proteoforms. To address this, we mapped the interactomes of several pairs of N-terminal proteoforms and their canonical counterparts. First, we generated a catalogue of N-terminal proteoforms found in the HEK293T cellular cytosol from which 22 pairs were selected for interactome profiling. In addition, we provide evidence for the expression of several N-terminal proteoforms, identified in our catalogue, across different human tissues, as well as tissue-specific expression, highlighting their biological relevance. Protein-protein interaction profiling revealed that the overlap of the interactomes for both proteoforms is generally high, showing their functional relation. We also showed that N-terminal proteoforms can be engaged in new interactions and/or lose several interactions compared with their canonical counterparts, thus further expanding the functional diversity of proteomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelies Bogaert
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daria Fijalkowska
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - An Staes
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tessa Van de Steene
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Charlotte Stadler
- Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Science for Life Laboratories, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven Eyckerman
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kerstin Spirohn
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tong Hao
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael A Calderwood
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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15
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Guo G, Wang X, Zhang Y, Li T. Sequence variations of phase-separating proteins and resources for studying biomolecular condensates. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1119-1132. [PMID: 37464880 PMCID: PMC10423696 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Phase separation (PS) is an important mechanism underlying the formation of biomolecular condensates. Physiological condensates are associated with numerous biological processes, such as transcription, immunity, signaling, and synaptic transmission. Changes in particular amino acids or segments can disturb the protein's phase behavior and interactions with other biomolecules in condensates. It is thus presumed that variations in the phase-separating-prone domains can significantly impact the properties and functions of condensates. The dysfunction of condensates contributes to a number of pathological processes. Pharmacological perturbation of these condensates is proposed as a promising way to restore physiological states. In this review, we characterize the variations observed in PS proteins that lead to aberrant biomolecular compartmentalization. We also showcase recent advancements in bioinformatics of membraneless organelles (MLOs), focusing on available databases useful for screening PS proteins and describing endogenous condensates, guiding researchers to seek the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of biomolecular condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaigai Guo
- Department of Biomedical InformaticsSchool of Basic Medical SciencesPeking University Health Science CenterBeijing100191China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Department of Biomedical InformaticsSchool of Basic Medical SciencesPeking University Health Science CenterBeijing100191China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical InformaticsSchool of Basic Medical SciencesPeking University Health Science CenterBeijing100191China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Biomedical InformaticsSchool of Basic Medical SciencesPeking University Health Science CenterBeijing100191China
- Key Laboratory for NeuroscienceMinistry of Education/National Health Commission of ChinaPeking UniversityBeijing100191China
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16
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Penna MS, Hu RC, Rodney GG, Cooper TA. The role of Limch1 alternative splicing in skeletal muscle function. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201868. [PMID: 36977593 PMCID: PMC10052820 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Postnatal skeletal muscle development is a highly dynamic period associated with widespread alternative splicing changes required to adapt tissues to adult function. These splicing events have significant implications because the reversion of adult mRNA isoforms to fetal isoforms is observed in forms of muscular dystrophy. LIMCH1 is a stress fiber-associated protein that is alternatively spliced to generate uLIMCH1, a ubiquitously expressed isoform, and mLIMCH1, a skeletal muscle-specific isoform containing six additional exons simultaneously included after birth in the mouse. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to delete the six alternatively spliced exons of LIMCH1 in mice, thereby forcing the constitutive expression of the predominantly fetal isoform, uLIMCH1. mLIMCH1 knockout mice had significant grip strength weakness in vivo, and maximum force generated was decreased ex vivo. Calcium-handling deficits were observed during myofiber stimulation that could explain the mechanism by which mLIMCH1 knockout leads to muscle weakness. In addition, LIMCH1 is mis-spliced in myotonic dystrophy type 1, with the muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of proteins acting as the likely major regulator of Limch1 alternative splicing in skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Penna
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rong-Chi Hu
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - George G Rodney
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Thomas A Cooper
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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17
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He S, Valkov E, Cheloufi S, Murn J. The nexus between RNA-binding proteins and their effectors. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:276-294. [PMID: 36418462 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00550-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate essentially every event in the lifetime of an RNA molecule, from its production to its destruction. Whereas much has been learned about RNA sequence specificity and general functions of individual RBPs, the ways in which numerous RBPs instruct a much smaller number of effector molecules, that is, the core engines of RNA processing, as to where, when and how to act remain largely speculative. Here, we survey the known modes of communication between RBPs and their effectors with a particular focus on converging RBP-effector interactions and their roles in reducing the complexity of RNA networks. We discern the emerging unifying principles and discuss their utility in our understanding of RBP function, regulation of biological processes and contribution to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyang He
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
- Center for RNA Biology and Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Eugene Valkov
- RNA Biology Laboratory & Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Sihem Cheloufi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
- Center for RNA Biology and Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA.
- Stem Cell Center, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
| | - Jernej Murn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
- Center for RNA Biology and Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA.
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18
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LaForce GR, Philippidou P, Schaffer AE. mRNA isoform balance in neuronal development and disease. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1762. [PMID: 36123820 PMCID: PMC10024649 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Balanced mRNA isoform diversity and abundance are spatially and temporally regulated throughout cellular differentiation. The proportion of expressed isoforms contributes to cell type specification and determines key properties of the differentiated cells. Neurons are unique cell types with intricate developmental programs, characteristic cellular morphologies, and electrophysiological potential. Neuron-specific gene expression programs establish these distinctive cellular characteristics and drive diversity among neuronal subtypes. Genes with neuron-specific alternative processing are enriched in key neuronal functions, including synaptic proteins, adhesion molecules, and scaffold proteins. Despite the similarity of neuronal gene expression programs, each neuronal subclass can be distinguished by unique alternative mRNA processing events. Alternative processing of developmentally important transcripts alters coding and regulatory information, including interaction domains, transcript stability, subcellular localization, and targeting by RNA binding proteins. Fine-tuning of mRNA processing is essential for neuronal activity and maintenance. Thus, the focus of neuronal RNA biology research is to dissect the transcriptomic mechanisms that underlie neuronal homeostasis, and consequently, predispose neuronal subtypes to disease. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geneva R LaForce
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Polyxeni Philippidou
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ashleigh E Schaffer
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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19
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Di Matteo A, Belloni E, Pradella D, Chiaravalli AM, Pini GM, Bugatti M, Alfieri R, Barzan C, Franganillo Tena E, Bione S, Terenzani E, Sessa F, Wyatt CDR, Vermi W, Ghigna C. Alternative Splicing Changes Promoted by NOVA2 Upregulation in Endothelial Cells and Relevance for Gastric Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098102. [PMID: 37175811 PMCID: PMC10178952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is crucial for cancer progression. While several anti-angiogenic drugs are in use for cancer treatment, their clinical benefits are unsatisfactory. Thus, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms sustaining cancer vessel growth is fundamental to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Alternative splicing (AS) is an essential modifier of human proteome diversity. Nevertheless, AS contribution to tumor vasculature development is poorly known. The Neuro-Oncological Ventral Antigen 2 (NOVA2) is a critical AS regulator of angiogenesis and vascular development. NOVA2 is upregulated in tumor endothelial cells (ECs) of different cancers, thus representing a potential driver of tumor blood vessel aberrancies. Here, we identified novel AS transcripts generated upon NOVA2 upregulation in ECs, suggesting a pervasive role of NOVA2 in vascular biology. In addition, we report that NOVA2 is also upregulated in ECs of gastric cancer (GC), and its expression correlates with poor overall survival of GC patients. Finally, we found that the AS of the Rap Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 6 (RapGEF6), a newly identified NOVA2 target, is altered in GC patients and associated with NOVA2 expression, tumor angiogenesis, and poor patient outcome. Our findings provide a better understanding of GC biology and suggest that AS might be exploited to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutics for anti-angiogenic GC treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Di Matteo
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisa Belloni
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Davide Pradella
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Giacomo Maria Pini
- Department of Pathology, Ospedale di Circolo, ASST-Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Mattia Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberta Alfieri
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Chiara Barzan
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori (IUSS), Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Franganillo Tena
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Università degli Studi di Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Bione
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisa Terenzani
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Fausto Sessa
- Department of Pathology, Ospedale di Circolo, ASST-Sette Laghi, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Christopher D R Wyatt
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - William Vermi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25100 Brescia, Italy
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110-1010, USA
| | - Claudia Ghigna
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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20
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Yuan X, Howie KL, Kazemi Sabzvar M, Chinnaswamy K, Stuckey JA, Yang CY. Profiling the Binding Activities of Peptides and Inhibitors to the U2 Auxiliary Factor Homology Motif (UHM) Domains. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:450-457. [PMID: 37077390 PMCID: PMC10107908 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA splicing is a biological process to generate mature mRNA (mRNA) by removing introns and annexing exons in the nascent RNA transcript and is executed by a multiprotein complex called spliceosome. To aid RNA splicing, a class of splicing factors use an atypical RNA recognition domain (UHM) to bind with U2AF ligand motifs (ULMs) in proteins to form modules that recognize splice sites and splicing regulatory elements on mRNA. Mutations of UHM containing splicing factors have been found frequently in myeloid neoplasms. To profile the selectivity of UHMs for inhibitor development, we established binding assays to measure the binding activities between UHM domains and ULM peptides and a set of small-molecule inhibitors. Additionally, we computationally analyzed the targeting potential of the UHM domains by small-molecule inhibitors. Our study provided the binding assessment of UHM domains to diverse ligands that may guide development of selective UHM domain inhibitors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinrui Yuan
- Departments
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Kathryn L. Howie
- Departments
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Mona Kazemi Sabzvar
- Departments
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | | | - Jeanne A. Stuckey
- Life
Science Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Chao-Yie Yang
- Departments
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
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21
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Zhao F, Yan Y, Wang Y, Liu Y, Yang R. Splicing complexity as a pivotal feature of alternative exons in mammalian species. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:198. [PMID: 37046221 PMCID: PMC10099729 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09247-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a significant process of post-transcriptional gene expression regulation in eukaryotic cells, alternative splicing (AS) of exons greatly contributes to the complexity of the transcriptome and indirectly enriches the protein repertoires. A large number of studies have focused on the splicing inclusion of alternative exons and have revealed the roles of AS in organ development and maturation. Notably, AS takes place through a change in the relative abundance of the transcript isoforms produced by a single gene, meaning that exons can have complex splicing patterns. However, the commonly used percent spliced-in (Ψ) values only define the usage rate of exons, but lose information about the complexity of exons' linkage pattern. To date, the extent and functional consequence of splicing complexity of alternative exons in development and evolution is poorly understood. RESULTS By comparing splicing complexity of exons in six tissues (brain, cerebellum, heart, liver, kidney, and testis) from six mammalian species (human, chimpanzee, gorilla, macaque, mouse, opossum) and an outgroup species (chicken), we revealed that exons with high splicing complexity are prevalent in mammals and are closely related to features of genes. Using traditional machine learning and deep learning methods, we found that the splicing complexity of exons can be moderately predicted with features derived from exons, among which length of flanking exons and splicing strength of downstream/upstream splice sites are top predictors. Comparative analysis among human, chimpanzee, gorilla, macaque, and mouse revealed that, alternative exons tend to evolve to an increased level of splicing complexity and higher tissue specificity in splicing complexity. During organ development, not only developmentally regulated exons, but also 10-15% of non-developmentally regulated exons show dynamic splicing complexity. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis revealed that splicing complexity is an important metric to characterize the splicing dynamics of alternative exons during the development and evolution of mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yubin Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yaxi Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ruolin Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
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22
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Rogalska ME, Vivori C, Valcárcel J. Regulation of pre-mRNA splicing: roles in physiology and disease, and therapeutic prospects. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:251-269. [PMID: 36526860 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00556-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The removal of introns from mRNA precursors and its regulation by alternative splicing are key for eukaryotic gene expression and cellular function, as evidenced by the numerous pathologies induced or modified by splicing alterations. Major recent advances have been made in understanding the structures and functions of the splicing machinery, in the description and classification of physiological and pathological isoforms and in the development of the first therapies for genetic diseases based on modulation of splicing. Here, we review this progress and discuss important remaining challenges, including predicting splice sites from genomic sequences, understanding the variety of molecular mechanisms and logic of splicing regulation, and harnessing this knowledge for probing gene function and disease aetiology and for the design of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Ewa Rogalska
- Genome Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia Vivori
- Genome Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Juan Valcárcel
- Genome Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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23
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Marasco LE, Kornblihtt AR. The physiology of alternative splicing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:242-254. [PMID: 36229538 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00545-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing is a substantial contributor to the high complexity of transcriptomes of multicellular eukaryotes. In this Review, we discuss the accumulated evidence that most of this complexity is reflected at the protein level and fundamentally shapes the physiology and pathology of organisms. This notion is supported not only by genome-wide analyses but, mainly, by detailed studies showing that global and gene-specific modulations of alternative splicing regulate highly diverse processes such as tissue-specific and species-specific cell differentiation, thermal regulation, neuron self-avoidance, infrared sensing, the Warburg effect, maintenance of telomere length, cancer and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We also discuss how mastering the control of alternative splicing paved the way to clinically approved therapies for hereditary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano E Marasco
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Moleculary Celular and CONICET-UBA, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alberto R Kornblihtt
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Moleculary Celular and CONICET-UBA, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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24
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Alternatively spliced exon regulates context-dependent MEF2D higher-order assembly during myogenesis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1329. [PMID: 36898987 PMCID: PMC10006080 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37017-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
During muscle cell differentiation, the alternatively spliced, acidic β-domain potentiates transcription of Myocyte-specific Enhancer Factor 2 (Mef2D). Sequence analysis by the FuzDrop method indicates that the β-domain can serve as an interaction element for Mef2D higher-order assembly. In accord, we observed Mef2D mobile nuclear condensates in C2C12 cells, similar to those formed through liquid-liquid phase separation. In addition, we found Mef2D solid-like aggregates in the cytosol, the presence of which correlated with higher transcriptional activity. In parallel, we observed a progress in the early phase of myotube development, and higher MyoD and desmin expression. In accord with our predictions, the formation of aggregates was promoted by rigid β-domain variants, as well as by a disordered β-domain variant, capable of switching between liquid-like and solid-like higher-order states. Along these lines, NMR and molecular dynamics simulations corroborated that the β-domain can sample both ordered and disordered interactions leading to compact and extended conformations. These results suggest that β-domain fine-tunes Mef2D higher-order assembly to the cellular context, which provides a platform for myogenic regulatory factors and the transcriptional apparatus during the developmental process.
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25
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Abstract
Dysregulated RNA splicing is a molecular feature that characterizes almost all tumour types. Cancer-associated splicing alterations arise from both recurrent mutations and altered expression of trans-acting factors governing splicing catalysis and regulation. Cancer-associated splicing dysregulation can promote tumorigenesis via diverse mechanisms, contributing to increased cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, enhanced migration and metastatic potential, resistance to chemotherapy and evasion of immune surveillance. Recent studies have identified specific cancer-associated isoforms that play critical roles in cancer cell transformation and growth and demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of correcting or otherwise antagonizing such cancer-associated mRNA isoforms. Clinical-grade small molecules that modulate or inhibit RNA splicing have similarly been developed as promising anticancer therapeutics. Here, we review splicing alterations characteristic of cancer cell transcriptomes, dysregulated splicing's contributions to tumour initiation and progression, and existing and emerging approaches for targeting splicing for cancer therapy. Finally, we discuss the outstanding questions and challenges that must be addressed to translate these findings into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert K Bradley
- Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division and Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Olga Anczuków
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.
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26
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Manuel JM, Guilloy N, Khatir I, Roucou X, Laurent B. Re-evaluating the impact of alternative RNA splicing on proteomic diversity. Front Genet 2023; 14:1089053. [PMID: 36845399 PMCID: PMC9947481 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1089053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) constitutes a mechanism by which protein-coding genes and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes produce more than a single mature transcript. From plants to humans, AS is a powerful process that increases transcriptome complexity. Importantly, splice variants produced from AS can potentially encode for distinct protein isoforms which can lose or gain specific domains and, hence, differ in their functional properties. Advances in proteomics have shown that the proteome is indeed diverse due to the presence of numerous protein isoforms. For the past decades, with the help of advanced high-throughput technologies, numerous alternatively spliced transcripts have been identified. However, the low detection rate of protein isoforms in proteomic studies raised debatable questions on whether AS contributes to proteomic diversity and on how many AS events are really functional. We propose here to assess and discuss the impact of AS on proteomic complexity in the light of the technological progress, updated genome annotation, and current scientific knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeru Manoj Manuel
- Research Center on Aging, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux de l’Estrie-Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada,Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Noé Guilloy
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Inès Khatir
- Research Center on Aging, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux de l’Estrie-Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada,Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Xavier Roucou
- Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada,Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CRCHUS), Sherbrooke, QC, Canada,Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function Structure and Engineering, PROTEO, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Benoit Laurent
- Research Center on Aging, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux de l’Estrie-Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada,Department of Biochemistry and Functional Genomics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: Benoit Laurent,
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27
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Mehta Z, Touma M. Post-Transcriptional Modification by Alternative Splicing and Pathogenic Splicing Variants in Cardiovascular Development and Congenital Heart Defects. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021555. [PMID: 36675070 PMCID: PMC9862068 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Advancements in genomics, bioinformatics, and genome editing have uncovered new dimensions in gene regulation. Post-transcriptional modifications by the alternative splicing of mRNA transcripts are critical regulatory mechanisms of mammalian gene expression. In the heart, there is an expanding interest in elucidating the role of alternative splicing in transcriptome regulation. Substantial efforts were directed toward investigating this process in heart development and failure. However, few studies shed light on alternative splicing products and their dysregulation in congenital heart defects (CHDs). While elegant reports showed the crucial roles of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in orchestrating splicing transitions during heart development and failure, the impact of RBPs dysregulation or genetic variation on CHDs has not been fully addressed. Herein, we review the current understanding of alternative splicing and RBPs' roles in heart development and CHDs. Wediscuss the impact of perinatal splicing transition and its dysregulation in CHDs. We further summarize the discoveries made of causal splicing variants in key transcription factors that are implicated in CHDs. An improved understanding of the roles of alternative splicing in heart development and CHDs may potentially inform novel preventive and therapeutic advancements for newborn infants with CHDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubin Mehta
- Neonatal/Congenital Heart Laboratory, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Marlin Touma
- Neonatal/Congenital Heart Laboratory, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Correspondence:
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28
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Paterson HAB, Yu S, Artigas N, Prado MA, Haberman N, Wang YF, Jobbins AM, Pahita E, Mokochinski J, Hall Z, Guerin M, Paulo JA, Ng SS, Villarroya F, Rashid ST, Le Goff W, Lenhard B, Cebola I, Finley D, Gygi SP, Sibley CR, Vernia S. Liver RBFOX2 regulates cholesterol homeostasis via Scarb1 alternative splicing in mice. Nat Metab 2022; 4:1812-1829. [PMID: 36536133 PMCID: PMC9771820 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00681-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RNA alternative splicing (AS) expands the regulatory potential of eukaryotic genomes. The mechanisms regulating liver-specific AS profiles and their contribution to liver function are poorly understood. Here, we identify a key role for the splicing factor RNA-binding Fox protein 2 (RBFOX2) in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis in a lipogenic environment in the liver. Using enhanced individual-nucleotide-resolution ultra-violet cross-linking and immunoprecipitation, we identify physiologically relevant targets of RBFOX2 in mouse liver, including the scavenger receptor class B type I (Scarb1). RBFOX2 function is decreased in the liver in diet-induced obesity, causing a Scarb1 isoform switch and alteration of hepatocyte lipid homeostasis. Our findings demonstrate that specific AS programmes actively maintain liver physiology, and underlie the lipotoxic effects of obesogenic diets when dysregulated. Splice-switching oligonucleotides targeting this network alleviate obesity-induced inflammation in the liver and promote an anti-atherogenic lipoprotein profile in the blood, underscoring the potential of isoform-specific RNA therapeutics for treating metabolism-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen A B Paterson
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Sijia Yu
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Natalia Artigas
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Miguel A Prado
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Avenida Hospital Universitario, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Nejc Haberman
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Yi-Fang Wang
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Andrew M Jobbins
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Elena Pahita
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Joao Mokochinski
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Zoe Hall
- Division of Systems Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Maryse Guerin
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), UMR_S1166, Paris, France
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Soon Seng Ng
- Division of Systems Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Francesc Villarroya
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine Department, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona & Research Institute Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sheikh Tamir Rashid
- Division of Systems Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Wilfried Le Goff
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), UMR_S1166, Paris, France
| | - Boris Lenhard
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Inês Cebola
- Section of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Daniel Finley
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher R Sibley
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology. School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Santiago Vernia
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK.
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK.
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29
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Holguin-Cruz JA, Foster LJ, Gsponer J. Where protein structure and cell diversity meet. Trends Cell Biol 2022; 32:996-1007. [PMID: 35537902 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Protein-protein interaction networks - interactomes - are charted with the hope to understand how phenotypes emerge and how they are altered in disease states. Early efforts to map interactomes have focused on the assembly of context agnostic, reference networks. However, recent studies have mapped interactomes across different cell lines and tissues, finding highly variable interactomes due to the rewiring of protein-protein interactions in different contexts. Increasing evidence points to significant links between protein structure and interactome diversity seen across cell types and tissues. We discuss how recent findings support the key role of alternative splicing and phosphorylation, two well-established regulators of protein structural and functional diversity, in defining cell type- and tissue-specific interactomes. Moreover, we show that intrinsically disordered protein regions are most favorably equipped to support interactome rewiring by acting as hubs of protein structure and function regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A Holguin-Cruz
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Leonard J Foster
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jörg Gsponer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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30
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Akram M, Handelsman DJ, Qayyum M, Kennerson M, Rauf S, Ahmed S, Ishtiaq O, Ismail M, Mansoor Q, Naseem AA, Rizvi SSR. Genetic analysis of failed male puberty using whole exome sequencing. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2022; 35:1410-1421. [PMID: 36103668 DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2022-0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although at least 598 genes are involved in the development of the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis, mutations in only 75 genes have so far been shown to cause delayed puberty. METHODS Six male patients with failed puberty, manifested as absence of pubertal changes by 18 years of age, underwent whole exome sequencing of genomic DNA with subsequent bioinformatics analysis and confirmation of selected variants by Sanger sequencing. Genes having plausibly pathogenic non-synonymous variants were characterized as group A (previously reported to cause delayed puberty), group B (expressed in the HPT-axis but no mutations therein were reported to cause delayed puberty) or group C (not reported previously to be connected with HPT-axis). RESULTS We identified variants in genes involved in GnRH neuron differentiation (2 in group A, 1 in group C), GnRH neuron migration (2 each in groups A and C), development of GnRH neural connections with supra-hypothalamic and hypothalamic neurons (2 each in groups A and C), neuron homeostasis (1 in group C), molecules regulating GnRH neuron activity (2 each in groups B and C), receptors/proteins expressed on GnRH neurons (1 in group B), signaling molecules (3 in group C), GnRH synthesis (1 in group B), gonadotropins production and release (1 each in groups A, B, and C) and action of the steroid hormone (1 in group A). CONCLUSIONS Non-synonymous variants were identified in 16 genes of the HPT-axis, which comprised 4 in group A that contains genes previously reported to cause delayed puberty, 4 in group B that are expressed along HPT-axis but no mutations therein were reported previously to cause delayed puberty and 8 in group C that contains novel candidate genes, suggesting wider genetic causes of failed male puberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maleeha Akram
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - David J Handelsman
- The ANZAC Research Institute (ARI), University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia
| | - Mazhar Qayyum
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Marina Kennerson
- The ANZAC Research Institute (ARI), University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia
| | - Sania Rauf
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.,Department of Biosciences, University of Wah, Quaid Avenue, Wah Cantt, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Ahmed
- Department of Endocrinology, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Osama Ishtiaq
- The Endocrinology and Diabetes Department, Shifa International Hospitals Ltd, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ismail
- Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Qaisar Mansoor
- Institute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Afzaal Ahmed Naseem
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Syed Shakeel Raza Rizvi
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
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31
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Lee J, Pang K, Kim J, Hong E, Lee J, Cho HJ, Park J, Son M, Park S, Lee M, Ooshima A, Park KS, Yang HK, Yang KM, Kim SJ. ESRP1-regulated isoform switching of LRRFIP2 determines metastasis of gastric cancer. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6274. [PMID: 36307405 PMCID: PMC9616898 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33786-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although accumulating evidence indicates that alternative splicing is aberrantly altered in many cancers, the functional mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that epithelial and mesenchymal isoform switches of leucine-rich repeat Fli-I-interacting protein 2 (LRRFIP2) regulated by epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 (ESRP1) correlate with metastatic potential of gastric cancer cells. We found that expression of the splicing variants of LRRFIP2 was closely correlated with that of ESRP1. Surprisingly, ectopic expression of the mesenchymal isoform of LRRFIP2 (variant 3) dramatically increased liver metastasis of gastric cancer cells, whereas deletion of exon 7 of LRRFIP2 by the CRISPR/Cas9 system caused an isoform switch, leading to marked suppression of liver metastasis. Mechanistically, the epithelial LRRFIP2 isoform (variant 2) inhibited the oncogenic function of coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) through interaction. Taken together, our data reveals a mechanism of LRRFIP2 isoform switches in gastric cancer with important implication for cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihee Lee
- GILO Institute, GILO Foundation, Seoul, 06668 Korea ,grid.410886.30000 0004 0647 3511Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13488 Korea
| | | | - Junil Kim
- grid.263765.30000 0004 0533 3568School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul, 06978 Korea
| | - Eunji Hong
- GILO Institute, GILO Foundation, Seoul, 06668 Korea ,grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 16419 Korea
| | - Jeeyun Lee
- grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDivision of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351 Korea
| | - Hee Jin Cho
- grid.258803.40000 0001 0661 1556Department of Biomedical Convergence Science and Technology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566 Korea ,grid.414964.a0000 0001 0640 5613Innovative Therapeutic Research Center, Precision Medicine Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06531 Republic of Korea
| | - Jinah Park
- GILO Institute, GILO Foundation, Seoul, 06668 Korea
| | - Minjung Son
- GILO Institute, GILO Foundation, Seoul, 06668 Korea ,grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 16419 Korea
| | - Sihyun Park
- GILO Institute, GILO Foundation, Seoul, 06668 Korea
| | | | | | - Kyung-Soon Park
- grid.410886.30000 0004 0647 3511Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13488 Korea
| | - Han-Kwang Yang
- grid.412484.f0000 0001 0302 820XDepartment of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080 Korea ,grid.31501.360000 0004 0470 5905Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080 Korea
| | | | - Seong-Jin Kim
- GILO Institute, GILO Foundation, Seoul, 06668 Korea ,Medpacto Inc., Seoul, 06668 Korea
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32
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Castaldi PJ, Abood A, Farber CR, Sheynkman GM. Bridging the splicing gap in human genetics with long-read RNA sequencing: finding the protein isoform drivers of disease. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:R123-R136. [PMID: 35960994 PMCID: PMC9585682 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant splicing underlies many human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders. Genome-wide mapping of splicing quantitative trait loci (sQTLs) has shown that genetic regulation of alternative splicing is widespread. However, identification of the corresponding isoform or protein products associated with disease-associated sQTLs is challenging with short-read RNA-seq, which cannot precisely characterize full-length transcript isoforms. Furthermore, contemporary sQTL interpretation often relies on reference transcript annotations, which are incomplete. Solutions to these issues may be found through integration of newly emerging long-read sequencing technologies. Long-read sequencing offers the capability to sequence full-length mRNA transcripts and, in some cases, to link sQTLs to transcript isoforms containing disease-relevant protein alterations. Here, we provide an overview of sQTL mapping approaches, the use of long-read sequencing to characterize sQTL effects on isoforms, the linkage of RNA isoforms to protein-level functions and comment on future directions in the field. Based on recent progress, long-read RNA sequencing promises to be part of the human disease genetics toolkit to discover and treat protein isoforms causing rare and complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Castaldi
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Abdullah Abood
- Center for Public Health Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Charles R Farber
- Center for Public Health Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Gloria M Sheynkman
- Center for Public Health Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
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33
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Yu G, Huang Q, Zhang X, Guo M, Wang J. Tissue Specificity Based Isoform Function Prediction. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2022; 19:3048-3059. [PMID: 34185647 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2021.3093167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing enables a gene spliced into different isoforms and hence protein variants. Identifying individual functions of these isoforms help deciphering the functional diversity of proteins. Although much efforts have been made for automatic gene function prediction, few efforts have been moved toward computational isoform function prediction, mainly due to the unavailable (or scanty) functional annotations of isoforms. Existing efforts directly combine multiple RNA-seq datasets without account of the important tissue specificity of alternative splicing. To bridge this gap, we introduce a novel approach called TS-Isofun to predict the functions of isoforms by integrating multiple functional association networks with respect to tissue specificity. TS-Isofun first constructs tissue-specific isoform functional association networks using multiple RNA-seq datasets from tissue-wise. Next, TS-Isofun assigns weights to these networks and models the tissue specificity by selectively integrating them with adaptive weights. It then introduces a joint matrix factorization-based data fusion model to leverage the integrated network, gene-level data and functional annotations of genes to infer the functions of isoforms. To achieve coherent weight assignment and isoform function prediction, TS-Isofun jointly optimizes the weights of individual networks and the isoform function prediction in a unified objective function. Experimental results show that TS-Isofun significantly outperforms state-of-the-art methods and the account of tissue specificity contributes to more accurate isoform function prediction.
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34
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Han H, Best AJ, Braunschweig U, Mikolajewicz N, Li JD, Roth J, Chowdhury F, Mantica F, Nabeel-Shah S, Parada G, Brown KR, O'Hanlon D, Wei J, Yao Y, Zid AA, Comsa LC, Jen M, Wang J, Datti A, Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis T, Weatheritt RJ, Greenblatt JF, Wrana JL, Irimia M, Gingras AC, Moffat J, Blencowe BJ. Systematic exploration of dynamic splicing networks reveals conserved multistage regulators of neurogenesis. Mol Cell 2022; 82:2982-2999.e14. [PMID: 35914530 PMCID: PMC10686216 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a critical regulatory layer; yet, factors controlling functionally coordinated splicing programs during developmental transitions are poorly understood. Here, we employ a screening strategy to identify factors controlling dynamic splicing events important for mammalian neurogenesis. Among previously unknown regulators, Rbm38 acts widely to negatively control neural AS, in part through interactions mediated by the established repressor of splicing, Ptbp1. Puf60, a ubiquitous factor, is surprisingly found to promote neural splicing patterns. This activity requires a conserved, neural-differential exon that remodels Puf60 co-factor interactions. Ablation of this exon rewires distinct AS networks in embryonic stem cells and at different stages of mouse neurogenesis. Single-cell transcriptome analyses further reveal distinct roles for Rbm38 and Puf60 isoforms in establishing neuronal identity. Our results describe important roles for previously unknown regulators of neurogenesis and establish how an alternative exon in a widely expressed splicing factor orchestrates temporal control over cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Han
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada.
| | - Andrew J Best
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | | | | | - Jack Daiyang Li
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Roth
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Fuad Chowdhury
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Federica Mantica
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Syed Nabeel-Shah
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Guillermo Parada
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Kevin R Brown
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Dave O'Hanlon
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Jiarun Wei
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Yuxi Yao
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Abdelrahman Abou Zid
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Lim Caden Comsa
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Mark Jen
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Jenny Wang
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Alessandro Datti
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Thomas Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Robert J Weatheritt
- EMBL Australia, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; St. Vincent Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Jack F Greenblatt
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jeffrey L Wrana
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Jason Moffat
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada.
| | - Benjamin J Blencowe
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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Li Y, Zhao Q, Song X, Song J. [Construction of an adenovirus vector expressing engineered splicing factor for regulating alternative splicing of YAP1 in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes]. NAN FANG YI KE DA XUE XUE BAO = JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2022; 42:1013-1018. [PMID: 35869763 DOI: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2022.07.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To construct an adenovirus vector expressing artificial splicing factor capable of regulating alternative splicing of Yap1 in cardiomyocytes. METHODS The splicing factors with different sequences were constructed against Exon6 of YAP1 based on the sequence specificity of Pumilio1. The PCR fragment of the artificially synthesized PUF-SR or wild-type PUFSR was cloned into pAd-Track plasmid, and the recombinant plasmids were transformed into E. coli DH5α for plasmid amplification. The amplified plasmids were digested with Pac I and transfected into 293A cells for packaging to obtain the adenovirus vectors. Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were transfected with the adenoviral vectors, and alternative splicing of YAP1 was detected using quantitative and semi-quantitative PCR; Western blotting was performed to detect the signal of the fusion protein Flag. RESULTS The transfection efficiency of the adenovirus vectors was close to 100% in rat cardiomyocytes, and no fluorescent protein was detected in the cells with plasmid transfection. The results of Western blotting showed that both the negative control and Flag-SR-NLS-PUF targeting the YAPExon6XULIE sequence were capable of detecting the expression of the protein fused to Flag. The results of reverse transcription-PCR and PCR demonstrated that the artificial splicing factor constructed based on the 4th target sequence of YAP1 effectively regulated the splicing of YAP1 Exon6 in the cardiomyocytes (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION We successfully constructed adenovirus vectors capable of regulating YAP1 alternative splicing rat cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Li
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200082, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Shidong Hospital Affiliated to University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Q Zhao
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - X Song
- Department of Heart Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - J Song
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shidong Hospital Affiliated to University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200082, China
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Specialization of the photoreceptor transcriptome by Srrm3-dependent microexons is required for outer segment maintenance and vision. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117090119. [PMID: 35858306 PMCID: PMC9303857 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117090119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal photoreceptors have a distinct transcriptomic profile compared to other neuronal subtypes, likely reflecting their unique cellular morphology and function in the detection of light stimuli by way of the ciliary outer segment. We discovered a layer of this molecular specialization by revealing that the vertebrate retina expresses the largest number of tissue-enriched microexons of all tissue types. A subset of these microexons is included exclusively in photoreceptor transcripts, particularly in genes involved in cilia biogenesis and vesicle-mediated transport. This microexon program is regulated by Srrm3, a paralog of the neural microexon regulator Srrm4. Despite the fact that both proteins positively regulate retina microexons in vitro, only Srrm3 is highly expressed in mature photoreceptors. Its deletion in zebrafish results in widespread down-regulation of microexon inclusion from early developmental stages, followed by other transcriptomic alterations, severe photoreceptor defects, and blindness. These results shed light on the transcriptomic specialization and functionality of photoreceptors, uncovering unique cell type-specific roles for Srrm3 and microexons with implications for retinal diseases.
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Wright CJ, Smith CWJ, Jiggins CD. Alternative splicing as a source of phenotypic diversity. Nat Rev Genet 2022; 23:697-710. [PMID: 35821097 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00514-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
A major goal of evolutionary genetics is to understand the genetic processes that give rise to phenotypic diversity in multicellular organisms. Alternative splicing generates multiple transcripts from a single gene, enriching the diversity of proteins and phenotypic traits. It is well established that alternative splicing contributes to key innovations over long evolutionary timescales, such as brain development in bilaterians. However, recent developments in long-read sequencing and the generation of high-quality genome assemblies for diverse organisms has facilitated comparisons of splicing profiles between closely related species, providing insights into how alternative splicing evolves over shorter timescales. Although most splicing variants are probably non-functional, alternative splicing is nonetheless emerging as a dynamic, evolutionarily labile process that can facilitate adaptation and contribute to species divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte J Wright
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK. .,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Wang J, Zhang L, Zeng A, Xia D, Yu J, Yu G. DeepIII: Predicting Isoform-Isoform Interactions by Deep Neural Networks and Data Fusion. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2022; 19:2177-2187. [PMID: 33764878 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2021.3068875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing enables a gene translating into different isoforms and into the corresponding proteoforms, which actually accomplish various biological functions of a living body. Isoform-isoform interactions (IIIs) provide a higher resolution interactome to explore the cellular processes and disease mechanisms than the canonically studied protein-protein interactions (PPIs), which are often recorded at the coarse gene level. The knowledge of IIIs is critical to map pathways, understand protein complexity and functional diversity, but the known IIIs are very scanty. In this paper, we propose a deep learning based method called DeepIII to systematically predict genome-wide IIIs by integrating diverse data sources, including RNA-seq datasets of different human tissues, exon array data, domain-domain interactions (DDIs) of proteins, nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences. Particularly, DeepIII fuses these data to learn the representation of isoform pairs with a four-layer deep neural networks, and then performs binary classification on the learnt representation to achieve the prediction of IIIs. Experimental results show that DeepIII achieves a superior prediction performance to the state-of-the-art solutions and the III network constructed by DeepIII gives more accurate isoform function prediction. Case studies further confirm that DeepIII can differentiate the individual interaction partners of different isoforms spliced from the same gene. The code and datasets of DeepIII are available at http://mlda.swu.edu.cn/codes.php?name=DeepIII.
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Zhou D, Tran Y, Abou Elela S, Scott MS. SAPFIR: A webserver for the identification of alternative protein features. BMC Bioinformatics 2022; 23:250. [PMID: 35751026 PMCID: PMC9229502 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-022-04804-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alternative splicing can increase the diversity of gene functions by generating multiple isoforms with different sequences and functions. However, the extent to which splicing events have functional consequences remains unclear and predicting the impact of splicing events on protein activity is limited to gene-specific analysis. Results To accelerate the identification of functionally relevant alternative splicing events we created SAPFIR, a predictor of protein features associated with alternative splicing events. This webserver tool uses InterProScan to predict protein features such as functional domains, motifs and sites in the human and mouse genomes and link them to alternative splicing events. Alternative protein features are displayed as functions of the transcripts and splice sites. SAPFIR could be used to analyze proteins generated from a single gene or a group of genes and can directly identify alternative protein features in large sequence data sets. The accuracy and utility of SAPFIR was validated by its ability to rediscover previously validated alternative protein domains. In addition, our de novo analysis of public datasets using SAPFIR indicated that only a small portion of alternative protein domains was conserved between human and mouse, and that in human, genes involved in nervous system process, regulation of DNA-templated transcription and aging are more likely to produce isoforms missing functional domains due to alternative splicing. Conclusion Overall SAPFIR represents a new tool for the rapid identification of functional alternative splicing events and enables the identification of cellular functions affected by a defined splicing program. SAPFIR is freely available at https://bioinfo-scottgroup.med.usherbrooke.ca/sapfir/, a website implemented in Python, with all major browsers supported. The source code is available at https://github.com/DelongZHOU/SAPFIR. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-022-04804-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delong Zhou
- Département de Microbiologie et d'infectiologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Yvan Tran
- Département de Biochimie et Génomique Fonctionnelle, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Sherif Abou Elela
- Département de Microbiologie et d'infectiologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1E 4K8, Canada.
| | - Michelle S Scott
- Département de Biochimie et Génomique Fonctionnelle, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1E 4K8, Canada.
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Huggett SB, Ikeda AS, McGeary JE, Kaun KR, Palmer RHC. Opioid Use Disorder and Alternative mRNA Splicing in Reward Circuitry. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13061045. [PMID: 35741807 PMCID: PMC9222793 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Opiate/opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic relapsing brain disorder that has increased in prevalence in the last two decades in the United States. Understanding the molecular correlates of OUD may provide key insights into the pathophysiology of this syndrome. Using publicly available RNA-sequencing data, our study investigated the possible role of alternative mRNA splicing in human brain tissue (dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and midbrain) of 90 individuals with OUD or matched controls. We found a total of 788 differentially spliced genes across brain regions. Alternative mRNA splicing demonstrated mostly tissue-specific effects, but a functionally characterized splicing change in the clathrin and AP-2-binding (CLAP) domain of the Bridging Integrator 1 (BIN1) gene was significantly linked to OUD across all brain regions. We investigated two hypotheses that may underlie differential splicing in OUD. First, we tested whether spliceosome genes were disrupted in the brains of individuals with OUD. Pathway enrichment analyses indicated spliceosome perturbations in OUD across brain regions. Second, we tested whether alternative mRNA splicing regions were linked to genetic predisposition. Using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of OUD, we found no evidence that DNA variants within or surrounding differentially spliced genes were implicated in the heritability of OUD. Altogether, our study contributes to the understanding of OUD pathophysiology by providing evidence of a possible role of alternative mRNA splicing in OUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer B. Huggett
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology at Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (S.B.H.); (A.S.I.)
| | - Ami S. Ikeda
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology at Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (S.B.H.); (A.S.I.)
| | - John E. McGeary
- Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI 02908, USA;
| | - Karla R. Kaun
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA;
| | - Rohan H. C. Palmer
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology at Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (S.B.H.); (A.S.I.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(404)-727-7340; Fax: +1-(404)-727-0372
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Fagg WS, Liu N, Braunschweig U, Pereira de Castro K, Chen X, Ditmars F, Widen S, Donohue JP, Modis K, Russell W, Fair JH, Weirauch M, Blencowe B, Garcia-Blanco M. Definition of germ layer cell lineage alternative splicing programs reveals a critical role for Quaking in specifying cardiac cell fate. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:5313-5334. [PMID: 35544276 PMCID: PMC9122611 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing is critical for development; however, its role in the specification of the three embryonic germ layers is poorly understood. By performing RNA-Seq on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and derived definitive endoderm, cardiac mesoderm, and ectoderm cell lineages, we detect distinct alternative splicing programs associated with each lineage. The most prominent splicing program differences are observed between definitive endoderm and cardiac mesoderm. Integrative multi-omics analyses link each program with lineage-enriched RNA binding protein regulators, and further suggest a widespread role for Quaking (QKI) in the specification of cardiac mesoderm. Remarkably, knockout of QKI disrupts the cardiac mesoderm-associated alternative splicing program and formation of myocytes. These changes arise in part through reduced expression of BIN1 splice variants linked to cardiac development. Mechanistically, we find that QKI represses inclusion of exon 7 in BIN1 pre-mRNA via an exonic ACUAA motif, and this is concomitant with intron removal and cleavage from chromatin. Collectively, our results uncover alternative splicing programs associated with the three germ lineages and demonstrate an important role for QKI in the formation of cardiac mesoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Samuel Fagg
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Naiyou Liu
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | | | | | - Xiaoting Chen
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology (CAGE), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Frederick S Ditmars
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Steven G Widen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - John Paul Donohue
- Sinsheimer Labs, RNA Center for Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Katalin Modis
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - William K Russell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Fair
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology (CAGE), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Benjamin J Blencowe
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONM5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, ONM5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Mariano A Garcia-Blanco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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Co-transcriptional splicing efficiency is a gene-specific feature that can be regulated by TGFβ. Commun Biol 2022; 5:277. [PMID: 35347226 PMCID: PMC8960766 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03224-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Differential splicing efficiency of specific introns is a mechanism that dramatically increases protein diversity, based on selection of alternative exons for the final mature mRNA. However, it is unclear whether splicing efficiency of introns within the same gene is coordinated and eventually regulated as a mechanism to control mature mRNA levels. Based on nascent chromatin-associated RNA-sequencing data, we now find that co-transcriptional splicing (CTS) efficiency tends to be similar between the different introns of a gene. We establish that two well-differentiated strategies for CTS efficiency exist, at the extremes of a gradient: short genes that produce high levels of pre-mRNA undergo inefficient splicing, while long genes with relatively low levels of pre-mRNA have an efficient splicing. Notably, we observe that genes with efficient CTS display a higher level of mature mRNA relative to their pre-mRNA levels. Further, we show that the TGFβ signal transduction pathway regulates the general CTS efficiency, causing changes in mature mRNA levels. Taken together, our data indicate that CTS efficiency is a gene-specific characteristic that can be regulated to control gene expression. Co-transcriptional splicing efficiency is a gene-specific characteristic that can be regulated by TGFβ to modulate gene expression.
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Guillaudeux N, Belleannée C, Blanquart S. Identifying genes with conserved splicing structure and orthologous isoforms in human, mouse and dog. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:216. [PMID: 35303798 PMCID: PMC8933948 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08429-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In eukaryote transcriptomes, a significant amount of transcript diversity comes from genes' capacity to generate different transcripts through alternative splicing. Identifying orthologous alternative transcripts across multiple species is of particular interest for genome annotators. However, there is no formal definition of transcript orthology based on the splicing structure conservation. Likewise there is no public dataset benchmark providing groups of orthologous transcripts sharing a conserved splicing structure. RESULTS We introduced a formal definition of splicing structure orthology and we predicted transcript orthologs in human, mouse and dog. Applying a selective strategy, we analyzed 2,167 genes and their 18,109 known transcripts and identified a set of 253 gene orthologs that shared a conserved splicing structure in all three species. We predicted 6,861 transcript CDSs (coding sequence), mainly for dog, an emergent model species. Each predicted transcript was an ortholog of a known transcript: both share the same CDS splicing structure. Evidence for the existence of the predicted CDSs was found in external data. CONCLUSIONS We generated a dataset of 253 gene triplets, structurally conserved and sharing all their CDSs in human, mouse and dog, which correspond to 879 triplets of spliced CDS orthologs. We have released the dataset both as an SQL database and as tabulated files. The data consists of the 879 CDS orthology groups with their detailed splicing structures, and the predicted CDSs, associated with their experimental evidence. The 6,861 predicted CDSs are provided in GTF files. Our data may contribute to compare highly conserved genes across three species, for comparative transcriptomics at the isoform level, or for benchmarking splice aligners and methods focusing on the identification of splicing orthologs. The data is available at https://data-access.cesgo.org/index.php/s/V97GXxOS66NqTkZ .
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Pervasive occurrence of splice-site-creating mutations and their possible involvement in genetic disorders. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:22. [PMID: 35304488 PMCID: PMC8933504 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-022-00294-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The search for causative mutations in human genetic disorders has mainly focused on mutations that disrupt coding regions or splice sites. Recently, however, it has been reported that mutations creating splice sites can also cause a range of genetic disorders. In this study, we identified 5656 candidate splice-site-creating mutations (SCMs), of which 3942 are likely to be pathogenic, in 4054 genes responsible for genetic disorders. Reanalysis of exome data obtained from ciliopathy patients led us to identify 38 SCMs as candidate causative mutations. We estimate that, by focusing on SCMs, the increase in diagnosis rate is approximately 5.9–8.5% compared to the number of already known pathogenic variants. This finding suggests that SCMs are mutations worth focusing on in the search for causative mutations of genetic disorders.
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Clinical Significance and Regulation of ERK5 Expression and Function in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020348. [PMID: 35053510 PMCID: PMC8773716 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is a unique kinase among MAPKs family members, given its large structure characterized by the presence of a unique C-terminal domain. Despite increasing data demonstrating the relevance of the ERK5 pathway in the growth, survival, and differentiation of normal cells, ERK5 has recently attracted the attention of several research groups given its relevance in inflammatory disorders and cancer. Accumulating evidence reported its role in tumor initiation and progression. In this review, we explore the gene expression profile of ERK5 among cancers correlated with its clinical impact, as well as the prognostic value of ERK5 and pERK5 expression levels in tumors. We also summarize the importance of ERK5 in the maintenance of a cancer stem-like phenotype and explore the major known contributions of ERK5 in the tumor-associated microenvironment. Moreover, although several questions are still open concerning ERK5 molecular regulation, different ERK5 isoforms derived from the alternative splicing process are also described, highlighting the potential clinical relevance of targeting ERK5 pathways.
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Reixachs-Solé M, Eyras E. Uncovering the impacts of alternative splicing on the proteome with current omics techniques. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2022; 13:e1707. [PMID: 34979593 PMCID: PMC9542554 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The high‐throughput sequencing of cellular RNAs has underscored a broad effect of isoform diversification through alternative splicing on the transcriptome. Moreover, the differential production of transcript isoforms from gene loci has been recognized as a critical mechanism in cell differentiation, organismal development, and disease. Yet, the extent of the impact of alternative splicing on protein production and cellular function remains a matter of debate. Multiple experimental and computational approaches have been developed in recent years to address this question. These studies have unveiled how molecular changes at different steps in the RNA processing pathway can lead to differences in protein production and have functional effects. New and emerging experimental technologies open exciting new opportunities to develop new methods to fully establish the connection between messenger RNA expression and protein production and to further investigate how RNA variation impacts the proteome and cell function. This article is categorized under:RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing Translation > Regulation RNA Evolution and Genomics > Computational Analyses of RNA
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Reixachs-Solé
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,EMBL Australia Partner Laboratory Network and the Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Eduardo Eyras
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,EMBL Australia Partner Laboratory Network and the Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain.,Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
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Gohr A, Mantica F, Hermoso-Pulido A, Tapial J, Márquez Y, Irimia M. Computational Analysis of Alternative Splicing Using VAST-TOOLS and the VastDB Framework. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2537:97-128. [PMID: 35895261 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2521-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) can vastly expand animal transcriptomes and proteomes. Two main open questions in the field are how AS is regulated across cell/tissue types and disease, and what roles different AS events play. To facilitate AS research, we have created the computational VastDB framework, which comprises a series of complementary software and resources that we describe in this chapter. The VastDB framework is especially designed to aid biomedical researchers without a strong computational background. It offers tools and resources to: (a) quantify AS and identify differentially spliced AS events using RNA-seq data (vast-tools), (b) perform multiple genomic and sequence analyses for investigating AS events (Matt), (c) identify AS events with genomic and regulatory conservation among species (ExOrthist), and (d) help with the biological interpretation of the results, and, ultimately, with the identification of interesting AS events to design wet-lab experiments (VastDB and PastDB).
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Affiliation(s)
- André Gohr
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Federica Mantica
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Hermoso-Pulido
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Tapial
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yamile Márquez
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
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Abstract
In Eukarya, immature mRNA transcripts (pre-mRNA) often contain coding sequences, or exons, interleaved by non-coding sequences, or introns. Introns are removed upon splicing, and further regulation of the retained exons leads to alternatively spliced mRNA. The splicing reaction requires the stepwise assembly of the spliceosome, a macromolecular machine composed of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). This review focuses on the early stage of spliceosome assembly, when U1 snRNP defines each intron 5’-splice site (5ʹss) in the pre-mRNA. We first introduce the splicing reaction and the impact of alternative splicing on gene expression regulation. Thereafter, we extensively discuss splicing descriptors that influence the 5ʹss selection by U1 snRNP, such as sequence determinants, and interactions mediated by U1-specific proteins or U1 small nuclear RNA (U1 snRNA). We also include examples of diseases that affect the 5ʹss selection by U1 snRNP, and discuss recent therapeutic advances that manipulate U1 snRNP 5ʹss selectivity with antisense oligonucleotides and small-molecule splicing switches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Malard
- Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR5320, ARNA Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Cameron D Mackereth
- Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR5320, ARNA Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Sébastien Campagne
- Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR5320, ARNA Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Cedex, France
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Desai J, Francis C, Longo K, Hoss A. OUP accepted manuscript. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:3128-3141. [PMID: 35286381 PMCID: PMC8989546 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing is frequently involved in the diversification of protein function and can also be modulated for therapeutic purposes. Here we develop a predictive model, called Exon ByPASS (predicting Exon skipping Based on Protein amino acid SequenceS), to assess the criticality of exon inclusion based solely on information contained in the amino acid sequence upstream and downstream of the exon junctions. By focusing on protein sequence, Exon ByPASS predicts exon skipping independent of tissue and species in the absence of any intronic information. We validate model predictions using transcriptomic and proteomic data and show that the model can capture exon skipping in different tissues and species. Additionally, we reveal potential therapeutic opportunities by predicting synthetically skippable exons and neo-junctions arising in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jigar Desai
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 704 214 7914;
| | | | | | - Andrew Hoss
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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50
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Louadi Z, Elkjaer ML, Klug M, Lio CT, Fenn A, Illes Z, Bongiovanni D, Baumbach J, Kacprowski T, List M, Tsoy O. Functional enrichment of alternative splicing events with NEASE reveals insights into tissue identity and diseases. Genome Biol 2021; 22:327. [PMID: 34857024 PMCID: PMC8638120 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02538-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is an important aspect of gene regulation. Nevertheless, its role in molecular processes and pathobiology is far from understood. A roadblock is that tools for the functional analysis of AS-set events are lacking. To mitigate this, we developed NEASE, a tool integrating pathways with structural annotations of protein-protein interactions to functionally characterize AS events. We show in four application cases how NEASE can identify pathways contributing to tissue identity and cell type development, and how it highlights splicing-related biomarkers. With a unique view on AS, NEASE generates unique and meaningful biological insights complementary to classical pathways analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zakaria Louadi
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria L Elkjaer
- Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Melissa Klug
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Chit Tong Lio
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Amit Fenn
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Zsolt Illes
- Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Dario Bongiovanni
- Department of Internal Medicine I, School of Medicine, University hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS and Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Jan Baumbach
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5000, Odense, Denmark
| | - Tim Kacprowski
- Division Data Science in Biomedicine, Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics of Technische Universität Braunschweig and Hannover Medical School, Braunschweig, Germany
- Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Markus List
- Chair of Experimental Bioinformatics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany.
| | - Olga Tsoy
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 9, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
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