HnRNP L represses exon splicing via a regulated exonic splicing silencer

LincRNA-ASAO promotes dental pulp repair through interacting with PTBP1 to increase ALPL alternative splicing

BACKGROUND

Alternative splicing not only expands the genetic encoding of genes but also determines cellular activities. This study aimed to elucidate the regulation mechanism and biological functions of lincRNA-ASAO in the process of odontogenesis-related genes alternative splicing mediated odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs.

METHODS

RACE, RNA-seq, FISH and bioinformatics techniques were used to identify novel lincRNA-ASAO. ALP staining, alizarin red staining, qRT-PCR and western blot were used to identify the role of lincRNA-ASAO in regulating the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. The binding protein PTBP1 of lincRNA-ASAO was screened by RNA-Pulldown, protein profiling and bioinformatics. The target gene ALPL of lincRNA-ASAO/PTBP1 was identified by RNA-seq, bioinformatics technology and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. FISH, IF, PAR-CLIP and bioinformatics techniques were used to determine the roles of lincRNA-ASAO, PTBP1 and ALPL pre-mRNA in the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs.

RESULTS

We identified a novel lincRNA-ASAO that could promote the odontogenic differentiation of human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs). And, the interaction between lincRNA-ASAO and alternative splicing factor PTBP1 promoted the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. In addition, lincRNA-ASAO forms duplexes with ALPL pre-mRNA, targeting PTBP1 to exonic splicing silencer (ESS) of ALPL and regulating exon 2 skipping. Notably, lincRNA-ASAO/PTBP1 regulated ALPL production to increase the type 2 splice variant, which promoted the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified the novel lincRNA-ASAO, which can promote the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. The mechanism study found that lincRNA-ASAO/PTBP1 mediated the exon 2 skipping of ALPL pre-mRNA, resulting in the type 2 splice variant of ALPL. Our results enrich the understanding of lncRNAs and alternative splicing in regulating the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs, and provide clues to improve the clinical therapeutic potential of hDPSCs for dental pulp restoration.

Regulation of HNRNP family by post-translational modifications in cancer

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (HNRNPs) represent a large family of RNA-binding proteins consisting of more than 20 members and have attracted great attention with their distinctive roles in cancer progression by regulating RNA splicing, transcription, and translation. Nevertheless, the cancer-specific modulation of HNRNPs has not been fully elucidated. The research of LC-MS/MS technology has documented that HNRNPs were widely and significantly targeted by different post-translational modifications (PTMs), which have emerged as core regulators in shaping protein functions and are involved in multiple physiological processes. Accumulating studies have highlighted that several PTMs are involved in the mechanisms of HNRNPs regulation in cancer and may be suitable therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the existing evidence describing how PTMs modulate HNRNPs functions on gene regulation and the involvement of their dysregulation in cancer, which will help shed insights on their clinical impacts as well as possible therapeutic tools targeting PTMs on HNRNPs.

Metabolic regulation of mRNA splicing

Alternative mRNA splicing enables the diversification of the proteome from a static genome and confers plasticity and adaptiveness on cells. Although this is often explored in development, where hard-wired programs drive the differentiation and specialization, alternative mRNA splicing also offers a way for cells to react to sudden changes in outside stimuli such as small-molecule metabolites. Fluctuations in metabolite levels and availability in particular convey crucial information to which cells react and adapt. We summarize and highlight findings surrounding the metabolic regulation of mRNA splicing. We discuss the principles underlying the biochemistry and biophysical properties of mRNA splicing, and propose how these could intersect with metabolite levels. Further, we present examples in which metabolites directly influence RNA-binding proteins and splicing factors. We also discuss the interplay between alternative mRNA splicing and metabolite-responsive signaling pathways. We hope to inspire future research to obtain a holistic picture of alternative mRNA splicing in response to metabolic cues.

MANCR lncRNA Modulates Cell-Cycle Progression and Metastasis by Cis-Regulation of Nuclear Rho-GEF

A significant number of the genetic alterations observed in cancer patients lie within nonprotein-coding segments of the genome, including regions coding for long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). LncRNAs display aberrant expression in breast cancer (BrCa), but the functional implications of this altered expression remain to be elucidated. By performing transcriptome screen in a triple negative BrCa (TNBC) isogenic 2D and 3D spheroid model, we observed aberrant expression of >1000 lncRNAs during BrCa progression. The chromatin-associated lncRNA MANCR shows elevated expression in metastatic TNBC. MANCR is upregulated in response to cellular stress and modulates DNA repair and cell proliferation. MANCR promotes metastasis as MANCR-depleted cells show reduced cell migration, invasion, and wound healing in vitro, and reduced metastatic lung colonization in xenograft experiments in vivo. Transcriptome analyses reveal that MANCR modulates expression and pre-mRNA splicing of genes, controlling DNA repair and checkpoint response. MANCR promotes the transcription of NET1A, a Rho-GEF that regulates DNA damage checkpoint and metastatic processes in cis, by differential promoter usage. Experiments suggest that MANCR regulates the expression of cancer-associated genes by modulating the association of various transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins. Our results identified the metastasis-promoting activities of MANCR in TNBC by cis-regulation of gene expression.

RNA circuits and RNA-binding proteins in T cells

RNA is integral to the regulatory circuits that control cell identity and behavior. Cis-regulatory elements in mRNAs interact with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that can alter RNA sequence, stability, and translation into protein. Similarly, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) scaffold ribonucleoprotein complexes that mediate transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Indeed, cell programming is fundamental to multicellular life and, in this era of cellular therapies, it is of particular interest in T cells. Here, we review key concepts and recent advances in our understanding of the RNA circuits and RBPs that govern mammalian T cell differentiation and immune function.

The implications of alternative pre-mRNA splicing in cell signal transduction

Cells produce multiple mRNAs through alternative splicing, which ensures proteome diversity. Because most human genes undergo alternative splicing, key components of signal transduction pathways are no exception. Cells regulate various signal transduction pathways, including those associated with cell proliferation, development, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Since proteins produced through alternative splicing can exhibit diverse biological functions, splicing regulatory mechanisms affect all signal transduction pathways. Studies have demonstrated that proteins generated by the selective combination of exons encoding important domains can enhance or attenuate signal transduction and can stably and precisely regulate various signal transduction pathways. However, aberrant splicing regulation via genetic mutation or abnormal expression of splicing factors negatively affects signal transduction pathways and is associated with the onset and progression of various diseases, including cancer. In this review, we describe the effects of alternative splicing regulation on major signal transduction pathways and highlight the significance of alternative splicing.

A splicing silencer in SMN2 intron 6 is critical in spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a fatal neuromuscular disease caused by homozygous deletions or mutations of the SMN1 gene. SMN2 is a paralogous gene of SMN1 and a modifying gene of SMA. A better understanding of how SMN2 exon 7 splicing is regulated helps discover new therapeutic targets for SMA therapy. Based on an antisense walk method to map exonic and intronic splicing silencers (ESSs and ISSs) in SMN2 exon 7 and the proximal regions of its flanking introns, we identified one ISS (ISS6-KH) at upstream of the branch point site in intron 6. By using mutagenesis-coupled RT-PCR with SMN1/2 minigenes, immunochromatography, overexpression and siRNA-knockdown, we found this ISS consists of a bipartite hnRNP A1 binding cis-element and a poly-U sequence located between the proximal hnRNP A1 binding site (UAGCUA) and the branch site. Both HuR and hnRNP C1 proteins promote exon 7 skipping through the poly-U stretch. Mutations or deletions of these motifs lead to efficient SMN2 exon 7 inclusion comparable to SMN1 gene. Furthermore, we identified an optimal antisense oligonucleotide that binds the intron six ISS and causes striking exon 7 inclusion in the SMN2 gene in patient fibroblasts and SMA mouse model. Our findings demonstrate that this novel ISS plays an important role in SMN2 exon 7 skipping and highlight a new therapeutic target for SMA therapy.

Emerging roles for heterogeneous ribonuclear proteins in normal and malignant B cells

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are among the most abundantly expressed RNA binding proteins in the cell and play major roles in all facets of RNA metabolism. hnRNPs are increasingly appreciated as essential for mammalian B cell development by regulating the carefully ordered expression of specific genes. Due to this tight regulation of the hnRNP-RNA network, it is no surprise that a growing number of genes encoding hnRNPs have been causally associated with the onset or progression of many cancers, including B cell neoplasms. Here we discuss our current understanding of hnRNP-driven regulation in normal, perturbed, and malignant B cells, and the most recent and emerging therapeutic innovations aimed at targeting the hnRNP-RNA network in lymphoma.

The splicing-regulatory lncRNA NTRAS sustains vascular integrity

Vascular integrity is essential for organ homeostasis to prevent edema formation and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression and often expressed in a cell type‐specific manner. By screening for endothelial‐enriched lncRNAs, we identified the undescribed lncRNA NTRAS to control endothelial cell functions. Silencing of NTRAS induces endothelial cell dysfunction in vitro and increases vascular permeability and lethality in mice. Biochemical analysis revealed that NTRAS, through its CA‐dinucleotide repeat motif, sequesters the splicing regulator hnRNPL to control alternative splicing of tight junction protein 1 (TJP1; also named zona occludens 1, ZO‐1) pre‐mRNA. Deletion of the hnRNPL binding motif in mice (Ntras^∆CA/∆CA) significantly repressed TJP1 exon 20 usage, favoring expression of the TJP1α‐ isoform, which augments permeability of the endothelial monolayer. Ntras^∆CA/∆CA mice further showed reduced retinal vessel growth and increased vascular permeability and myocarditis. In summary, this study demonstrates that NTRAS is an essential gatekeeper of vascular integrity.

Single-cell atlas of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pregnant women

Background

During pregnancy, mother–child interactions trigger a variety of subtle changes in the maternal body, which may be reflected in the status of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Although these cells are easy to access and monitor, a PBMC atlas for pregnant women has not yet been constructed.

Methods

We applied single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) to profile 198,356 PBMCs derived from 136 pregnant women (gestation weeks 6 to 40) and a control cohort. We also used scRNA‐seq data to establish a transcriptomic clock and thereby predicted the gestational age of normal pregnancy.

Results

We identified reconfiguration of the peripheral immune cell phenotype during pregnancy, including interferon‐stimulated gene upregulation, activation of RNA splicing‐related pathways and immune activity of cell subpopulations. We also developed a cell‐type‐specific model to predict gestational age of normal pregnancy.

Conclusions

We constructed a single‐cell atlas of PBMCs in pregnant women spanning the entire gestation period, which should help improve our understanding of PBMC composition turnover in pregnant women.

Structural basis of the interaction between SETD2 methyltransferase and hnRNP L paralogs for governing co-transcriptional splicing

The RNA recognition motif (RRM) binds to nucleic acids as well as proteins. More than one such domain is found in the pre-mRNA processing hnRNP proteins. While the mode of RNA recognition by RRMs is known, the molecular basis of their protein interaction remains obscure. Here we describe the mode of interaction between hnRNP L and LL with the methyltransferase SETD2. We demonstrate that for the interaction to occur, a leucine pair within a highly conserved stretch of SETD2 insert their side chains in hydrophobic pockets formed by hnRNP L RRM2. Notably, the structure also highlights that RRM2 can form a ternary complex with SETD2 and RNA. Remarkably, mutating the leucine pair in SETD2 also results in its reduced interaction with other hnRNPs. Importantly, the similarity that the mode of SETD2-hnRNP L interaction shares with other related protein-protein interactions reveals a conserved design by which splicing regulators interact with one another.

Interaction between SETD2 and hnRNP L has previously been shown to be implicated in coupling gene transcription and mRNA processing. Here the authors elucidate the molecular basis of this functional interaction, showing that the RRM domain of hnRNP L possesses non-overlapping binding interfaces for engaging RNA and SETD2.

Regulation of integrin and extracellular matrix genes by HNRNPL is necessary for epidermal renewal

Stratified epithelia such as the epidermis require coordinated regulation of stem and progenitor cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation to maintain homeostasis. Integrin-mediated anchorage of the basal layer stem cells of the epidermis to the underlying dermis through extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is crucial for this process. It is currently unknown how the expression of these integrins and ECM genes are regulated. Here, we show that the RNA-binding protein (RBP) heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (HNRNPL) binds to these genes on chromatin to promote their expression. HNRNPL recruits RNA polymerase II (Pol II) to integrin/ECM genes and is required for stabilizing Pol II transcription through those genes. In the absence of HNRNPL, the basal layer of the epidermis where the stem cells reside prematurely differentiates and detaches from the underlying dermis due to diminished integrin/ECM expression. Our results demonstrate a critical role for RBPs on chromatin to maintain stem and progenitor cell fate by dictating the expression of specific classes of genes.

The three as: Alternative splicing, alternative polyadenylation and their impact on apoptosis in immune function

The latest advances in next-generation sequencing studies and transcriptomic profiling over the past decade have highlighted a surprising frequency of genes regulated by RNA processing mechanisms in the immune system. In particular, two control steps in mRNA maturation, namely alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation, are now recognized to occur in the vast majority of human genes. Both have the potential to alter the identity of the encoded protein, as well as control protein abundance or even protein localization or association with other factors. In this review, we will provide a summary of the general mechanisms by which alternative splicing (AS) and alternative polyadenylation (APA) occur, their regulation within cells of the immune system, and their impact on immunobiology. In particular, we will focus on how control of apoptosis by AS and APA is used to tune cell fate during an immune response.

FBXO16-mediated hnRNPL ubiquitination and degradation plays a tumor suppressor role in ovarian cancer

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNPL) is a type of RNA binding protein that highly expressed in a variety of tumors and plays a vital role in tumor progression. However, its post-translational regulation through ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and the cellular mechanism responsible for its proteasomal degradation remains unclear. F-box proteins (FBPs) function as the substrate recognition subunits of SCF ubiquitin ligase complexes and directly bind to substrates. The aberrant expression or mutation of FBPs will lead to the accumulation of its substrate proteins that often involved in tumorigenesis. Here we discover FBXO16, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, to be a tumor suppressor in ovarian cancer, and patients with the relatively high expression level of FBXO16 have a better prognosis. Silencing or depleting FBXO16 significantly enhanced ovarian cancer cell proliferation, clonogenic survival, and cell invasion by activating multiple oncogenic pathways. This function requires the F-box domain of FBXO16, through which FBXO16 assembles a canonical SCF ubiquitin ligase complex that constitutively targets hnRNPL for degradation. Depletion of hnRNPL is sufficient to inactive multiple oncogenic signaling regulated by FBXO16 and prevent the malignant behavior of ovarian cancer cells caused by FBXO16 deficiency. FBXO16 interacted with the RRM3 domain of hnRNPL via its C-terminal region to trigger the proteasomal degradation of hnRNPL. Failure to degrade hnRNPL promoted ovarian cancer cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth vivo, phenocopying the deficiency of FBXO16 in ovarian cancer.

The RNA regulatory programs that govern lymphocyte development and function

Lymphocytes require of constant and dynamic changes in their transcriptome for timely activation and production of effector molecules to combat external pathogens. Synthesis and translation of messenger (m)RNAs into these effector proteins is controlled both quantitatively and qualitatively by RNA binding proteins (RBPs). RBP-dependent regulation of RNA editing, subcellular location, stability, and translation shapes immune cell development and immunity. Extensive evidences have now been gathered from few model RBPs, HuR, PTBP1, ZFP36, and Roquin. However, recently developed methodologies for global characterization of protein:RNA interactions suggest the existence of complex RNA regulatory networks in which RBPs co-ordinately regulate the fate of sets of RNAs controlling cellular pathways and functions. In turn, RNA can also act as scaffolding of functionally related proteins modulating their activation and function. Here we review current knowledge about how RBP-dependent regulation of RNA shapes our immune system and discuss about the existence of a hidden immune cell epitranscriptome. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.

Identification of missense MAB21L1 variants in microphthalmia and aniridia

Microphthalmia, coloboma, and aniridia are congenital ocular phenotypes with a strong genetic component but often unknown cause. We present a likely causative novel variant in MAB21L1, c.152G>T p.(Arg51Leu), in two family members with microphthalmia and aniridia, as well as novel or rare compound heterozygous variants of uncertain significance, c.184C>T p.(Arg62Cys)/c.-68T>C, and c.658G>C p.(Gly220Arg)/c.*529A>G, in two additional probands with microphthalmia, coloboma and/or cataracts. All variants were predicted as damaging by in silico programs. In vitro studies of coding variants revealed normal subcellular localization but variable stability for the corresponding mutant proteins. In vivo complementation assays using the zebrafish mab21l2 Q48Sfs*5 loss-of-function line demonstrated that though overexpression of wild-type MAB21L1 messenger RNA (mRNA) compensated for the loss of mab21l2, none of the coding variant mRNAs produced a statistically significant rescue, with p.(Arg51Leu) showing the highest degree of functional deficiency. Dominant variants in a close homolog of MAB21L1, MAB21L2, have been associated with microphthalmia and/or coloboma and repeatedly involved the same Arg51 residue, further supporting its pathogenicity. The possible role of p.(Arg62Cys) and p.(Gly220Arg) in microphthalmia is similarly supported by the observed functional defects, with or without an additional impact from noncoding MAB21L1 variants identified in each patient. This study suggests a broader spectrum of MAB21L1-associated disease.

Natural Antisense Transcript PEBP1P3 Regulates the RNA Expression, DNA Methylation and Histone Modification of CD45 Gene

The leukocyte common antigen CD45 is a transmembrane phosphatase expressed on all nucleated hemopoietic cells, and the expression levels of its splicing isoforms are closely related to the development and function of lymphocytes. PEBP1P3 is a natural antisense transcript from the opposite strand of CD45 intron 2 and is predicted to be a noncoding RNA. The genotype-tissue expression and quantitative PCR data suggested that PEBP1P3 might be involved in the regulation of expression of CD45 splicing isoforms. To explore the regulatory mechanism of PEBP1P3 in CD45 expression, DNA methylation and histone modification were detected by bisulfate sequencing PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, respectively. The results showed that after the antisense RNA PEBP1P3 was knocked down by RNA interference, the DNA methylation of CD45 intron 2 was decreased and histone H3K9 and H3K36 trimethylation at the alternative splicing exons of CD45 DNA was increased. Knockdown of PEBP1P3 also increased the binding levels of chromatin conformation organizer CTCF at intron 2 and the alternative splicing exons of CD45. The present results indicate that the natural antisense RNA PEBP1P3 regulated the alternative splicing of CD45 RNA, and that might be correlated with the regulation of histone modification and DNA methylation.

Alternative Splicing of Pre-mRNA in the Control of Immune Activity

The human immune response is a complex process that responds to numerous exogenous antigens in preventing infection by microorganisms, as well as to endogenous components in the surveillance of tumors and autoimmune diseases, and a great number of molecules are necessary to carry the functional complexity of immune activity. Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA plays an important role in immune cell development and regulation of immune activity through yielding diverse transcriptional isoforms to supplement the function of limited genes associated with the immune reaction. In addition, multiple factors have been identified as being involved in the control of alternative splicing at the cis, trans, or co-transcriptional level, and the aberrant splicing of RNA leads to the abnormal modulation of immune activity in infections, immune diseases, and tumors. In this review, we summarize the recent discoveries on the generation of immune-associated alternative splice variants, clinical disorders, and possible regulatory mechanisms. We also discuss the immune responses to the neoantigens produced by alternative splicing, and finally, we issue some alternative splicing and immunity correlated questions based on our knowledge.

Splicing at the phase-separated nuclear speckle interface: a model

Phase-separated membraneless bodies play important roles in nucleic acid biology. While current models for the roles of phase separation largely focus on the compartmentalization of constituent proteins, we reason that other properties of phase separation may play functional roles. Specifically, we propose that interfaces of phase-separated membraneless bodies could have functional roles in spatially organizing biochemical reactions. Here we propose such a model for the nuclear speckle, a membraneless body implicated in RNA splicing. In our model, sequence-dependent RNA positioning along the nuclear speckle interface coordinates RNA splicing. Our model asserts that exons are preferentially sequestered into nuclear speckles through binding by SR proteins, while introns are excluded through binding by nucleoplasmic hnRNP proteins. As a result, splice sites at exon-intron boundaries are preferentially positioned at nuclear speckle interfaces. This positioning exposes splice sites to interface-localized spliceosomes, enabling the subsequent splicing reaction. Our model provides a simple mechanism that seamlessly explains much of the complex logic of splicing. This logic includes experimental results such as the antagonistic duality between splicing factors, the position dependence of splicing sequence motifs, and the collective contribution of many motifs to splicing decisions. Similar functional roles for phase-separated interfaces may exist for other membraneless bodies.

Loss of hnRNPLL-dependent splicing of Ptprc has no impact on B-cell development, activation and terminal differentiation into antibody-secreting cells

The RNA-binding protein heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L-like (hnRNPLL) controls alternative splicing of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C (Ptprc) which encodes CD45. hnRNPLL deficiency leads to a failure in silencing Ptprc exons 4-6 causing aberrant expression of the corresponding CD45 isoforms, namely, CD45RA, RB and RC. While an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced point mutation in murine Hnrnpll results in loss of peripheral naïve T cells, its role in B-cell biology remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that B-cell development in the bone marrow of Hnrnpll^thu/thu mice is normal and the number of mature B-cell subsets in the spleen and peritoneal cavity is comparable to control littermates. In response to in vivo immunization, Hnrnpll^thu/thu mice were deficient in generating germinal center (GC) B cells, and analysis of mixed bone marrow chimeras revealed that the GC B-cell deficiency was a B-cell extrinsic effect of the hnRNPLL mutation. Mature Hnrnpll^thu/thu B cells proliferated normally in response to various B-cell receptor- and Toll-like receptor-mediated stimuli. Similarly, in vitro stimulation of mutant B cells led to normal generation of plasmablasts, but mutant plasmablasts failed to downregulate B220 expression because of the inability of cells to undergo proper CD45 pre-messenger RNA alternative splicing. These findings collectively suggest that, like in T and natural killer T cells, the mutation disrupts hnRNPLL-mediated alternative splicing of the Ptprc gene in plasmablasts, but this dysregulation of Ptprc alternative splicing does not affect the development and function of B cells.

Protein Kinase C Theta Modulates PCMT1 through hnRNPL to Regulate FOXP3 Stability in Regulatory T Cells

T cell receptor signaling, together with cytokine-induced signals, can differentially regulate RNA processing to influence T helper versus regulatory T cell fate. Protein kinase C family members have been shown to function in alternative splicing and RNA processing in various cell types. T cell-specific protein kinase C theta, a molecular regulator of T cell receptor downstream signaling, has been shown to phosphorylate splicing factors and affect post-transcriptional control of T cell gene expression. In this study, we explored how using a synthetic cell-penetrating peptide mimic for intracellular anti-protein kinase C theta delivery fine-tunes differentiation of induced regulatory T cells through its differential effects on RNA processing. We identified protein kinase C theta signaling as a critical modulator of two key RNA regulatory factors, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNPL) and protein-l-isoaspartate O-methyltransferase-1 (PCMT1), and loss of protein kinase C theta function initiated a "switch" in post-transcriptional organization in induced regulatory T cells. More interestingly, we discovered that protein-l-isoaspartate O- methyltransferase-1 acts as an instability factor in induced regulatory T cells, by methylating the forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) promoter. Targeting protein-l-isoaspartate O-methyltransferase-1 using a cell-penetrating antibody revealed an efficient means of modulating RNA processing to confer a stable regulatory T cell phenotype.

Inclusion of hnRNP L Alternative Exon 7 Is Associated with Good Prognosis and Inhibited by Oncogene SRSF3 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Alternative splicing is increasingly associated with cancers. HnRNP L is a splicing factor that promotes carcinogenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and other cancers. Alternative exon 7 of hnRNP L contains an in-frame stop codon. Exon 7-included transcripts can be degraded via nonsense-mediated decay or encode a truncated hnRNP L protein. Exon 7-excluded transcripts can encode full-length functional hnRNP L protein. HnRNP L has an autoregulation mechanism by promoting the inclusion of its own exon 7. This study aimed to understand the relationship between the alternative splicing of exon 7 and HNSCC. Oncogenic splicing factor SRSF3 has an alternative exon 4 and similar autoregulation mechanism. HnRNP L promotes SRSF3 exon 4 inclusion and then inhibits SRSF3 autoregulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relationship between alternative splicing of hnRNP L exon 7 and clinical characteristics of HNSCC in a TCGA dataset was analyzed and confirmed by RT-PCR in a cohort of 61 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. The regulators of exon 7 splicing were screened in 29 splicing factors and confirmed by overexpression or silencing assay in HEK 293, CAL 27, and SCC-9 cell lines.

RESULTS

The inclusion of hnRNP L exon 7 was significantly negatively associated with the progression and prognosis of HNSCC, which was confirmed in the cohort of 61 OSCC patients. SRSF3 inhibited exon 7 inclusion and hnRNP L autoregulation and then promoted the expression of full-length functional hnRNP L protein. SRSF3 exon 4 inclusion was correlated with hnRNP L exon 7 inclusion in both HNSCC and breast cancer. HNSCC patients with both low hnRNP L exon 7 and SRSF3 exon 4 inclusion show poor overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Inclusion of hnRNP L alternative exon 7 is associated with good prognosis and inhibited by oncogene SRSF3 in HNSCC.

Mapping transcriptome-wide protein-RNA interactions to elucidate RNA regulatory programs

BACKGROUND

Our understanding of post-transcriptional gene regulation has increased exponentially with the development of robust methods to define protein-RNA interactions across the transcriptome. In this review, we highlight the evolution and successful applications of crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP) methods to interrogate protein-RNA interactions in a transcriptome-wide manner.

RESULTS

Here, we survey the vast array of in vitro and in vivo approaches used to identify protein-RNA interactions, including but not limited to electrophoretic mobility shift assays, systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), and RIP-seq. We particularly emphasize the advancement of CLIP technologies, and detail protocol improvements and computational tools used to analyze the output data. Importantly, we discuss how profiling protein-RNA interactions can delineate biological functions including splicing regulation, alternative polyadenylation, cytoplasmic decay substrates, and miRNA targets.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this review summarizes the benefits of characterizing RNA-protein networks to further understand the regulation of gene expression and disease pathogenesis. Our review comments on how future CLIP technologies can be adapted to address outstanding questions related to many aspects of RNA metabolism and further advance our understanding of RNA biology.

Co-regulatory activity of hnRNP K and NS1-BP in influenza and human mRNA splicing

Three of the eight RNA segments encoded by the influenza A virus (IAV) undergo alternative splicing to generate distinct proteins. Previously, we found that host proteins hnRNP K and NS1-BP regulate IAV M segment splicing, but the mechanistic details were unknown. Here we show NS1-BP and hnRNP K bind M mRNA downstream of the M2 5′ splice site (5′ss). NS1-BP binds most proximal to the 5′ss, partially overlapping the U1 snRNP binding site, while hnRNP K binds further downstream and promotes U1 snRNP recruitment. Mutation of either or both the hnRNP K and NS1-BP-binding sites results in M segment mis-splicing and attenuated IAV replication. Additionally, we show that hnRNP K and NS1-BP regulate host splicing events and that viral infection causes mis-splicing of some of these transcripts. Therefore, our proposed mechanism of hnRNP K/NS1-BP mediated IAV M splicing provides potential targets of antiviral intervention and reveals novel host functions for these proteins.

Alternative splicing of influenza A virus (IAV) M transcript is regulated by hnRNP K and NS1-BP, but mechanistic details are unknown. Here, Thompson et al. show how hnRNP K and NS1-BP bind M mRNA and that these proteins regulate splicing of host transcripts in both the absence and presence of IAV infection.

HnRNP L represses cryptic exons

The fidelity of RNA splicing is regulated by a network of splicing enhancers and repressors, although the rules that govern this process are not yet fully understood. One mechanism that contributes to splicing fidelity is the repression of nonconserved cryptic exons by splicing factors that recognize dinucleotide repeats. We previously identified that TDP-43 and PTBP1/PTBP2 are capable of repressing cryptic exons utilizing UG and CU repeats, respectively. Here we demonstrate that hnRNP L (HNRNPL) also represses cryptic exons by utilizing exonic CA repeats, particularly near the 5'SS. We hypothesize that hnRNP L regulates CA repeat repression for both cryptic exon repression and developmental processes such as T cell differentiation.

Splicing in immune cells-mechanistic insights and emerging topics

Differential splicing of mRNAs not only enables regulation of gene expression levels, but also ensures a high degree of gene-product diversity. The extent to which splicing of mRNAs is utilized as a mechanism in immune cells has become evident within the last few years. Still, only a few of these mechanisms have been well studied. In this review, we discuss some of the best-understood mechanisms, for instance the differential splicing of CD45 in T cells, as well as immunoglobulin genes in B cells. Beyond that we provide general mechanistic insights on how, when and where this process takes place and discuss the current knowledge regarding these topics in immune cells. We also highlight some of the reported links to immune-related diseases, genome-wide sequencing studies that revealed thousands of differentially spliced transcripts, as well as splicing studies on immune cells that remain mechanistically not fully understood. We thereby display potential emerging topics for future studies centered on splicing mechanisms in immune cells.

Human IL12RB1 expression is allele-biased and produces a novel IL12 response regulator

Human IL12RB1 is an autosomal gene that is essential for mycobacterial disease resistance and T cell differentiation. Using primary human tissue and PBMCs, we demonstrate that lung and T cell IL12RB1 expression is allele-biased, and the extent to which cells express one IL12RB1 allele is unaffected by activation. Furthermore, following its expression the IL12RB1 pre-mRNA is processed into either IL12RB1 Isoform 1 (IL12Rβ1, a positive regulator of IL12-responsiveness) or IL12RB1 Isoform 2 (a protein of heretofore unknown function). T cells’ choice to process pre-mRNA into Isoform 1 or Isoform 2 is controlled by intragenic competition of IL12RB1 exon 9-10 splicing with IL12RB1 exon 9b splicing, as well as an IL12RB1 exon 9b-associated polyadenylation site. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H (hnRNP H) binds near the regulated polyadenylation site, but is not required for exon 9b polyadenylation. Finally, microRNA-mediated knockdown experiments demonstrated that IL12RB1 Isoform 2 promotes T cell IL12 responses. Collectively, our data support a model wherein tissue expression of human IL12RB1 is allele-biased and produces an hnRNP H bound pre-mRNA, the processing of which generates a novel IL12 response regulator.

Human regulatory proteins associate with non-coding RNAs from the EBV IR1 region

Objective

The function of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) stable intronic sequence (sis)RNAs, non-coding RNAs transcribed from a region required for EBV-mediated cellular transformation, remain unknown. To better understand the function of ebv-sisRNA-1 and ebv-sisRNA-2 from the internal repeat (IR)1 region of EBV, we used a combination of bioinformatics and biochemistry to identify associated RNA binding proteins. The findings reported here are part of ongoing studies to determine the functions of non-coding RNAs from the IR1 region of EBV.

Results

Human regulatory proteins HNRNPA1 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1), HNRNPC, HNRNPL, HuR (human antigen R), and protein LIN28A (lin-28 homolog A) were predicted to bind ebv-sisRNA-1 and/or ebv-sisRNA-2; FUS (fused in sarcoma) was predicted to associate with ebv-sisRNA-2. Protein interactions were validated using a combination of RNA immunoprecipitation and biotin pulldown assays. Both sisRNAs also precipitated with HNRNPD and NONO (non-POU domain-containing octamer-binding protein). Interestingly, each of these interacting proteins also precipitated non-spliced non-coding RNA sequences transcribed from the IR1 region. Our findings suggest interesting roles for sisRNAs (through their interactions with regulatory proteins) and provide further evidence for the existence of non-spliced stable non-coding RNAs.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3250-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Long noncoding RNA uc.345 promotes tumorigenesis of pancreatic cancer by upregulation of hnRNPL expression

Increasing evidence points to an important functional or regulatory role of long noncoding RNA in cellular processes as well as cancer diseases resulted from the aberrant lncRNA expression. LncRNA could participate in the cancer progression and develop a significant role through the interaction with proteins. In the present study, we report a lncRNA termed uc.345 that is up-regulated in tumor tissues, compared to the corresponding noncancerous tissues. We found that a higher uc.345 expression level was more frequently observed in tissues with increased depth of invasion and advanced TNM tumor node metastasis T stage. Moreover, uc.345 could be used as an independent risk factor for the overall survival (OS) of the pancreatic cancer patients. By employing soft agar assays and tumor xenograft models, we showed that uc.345 could accelerate tumor growth. Further, we discovered that uc.345 could upregulate the hnRNPL expression and that inhibition of (hnRNPL) dampens the tumorigenesis capability of uc.345. Collectively, these results demonstrate that uc.345 functions as an oncogenic lncRNA that promotes tumor progression and serves as a poor predictor for pancreatic cancer patients' overall survival.

Interplay between miR-574-3p and hnRNP L regulates VEGFA mRNA translation and tumorigenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are families of sequence-specific, posttranscriptional modulators of gene expression. Despite extensive mechanistic and functional studies on both regulatory classes, the interactions and crosstalk between them are largely unexplored. We have reported that competition between miR-297 and hnRNP L to bind a 3΄UTR-localized CA-rich element (CARE) of VEGFA mRNA regulates its translation. Here, we show that translation of VEGFA mRNA in human myeloid cells is dictated by a bi-directional interaction between miR-574-3p, a CA-rich microRNA, and hnRNP L. In normoxia, miR-574-3p, acting as a decoy, binds cytoplasmic hnRNP L and prevents its binding to the CARE and stimulation of VEGFA mRNA translation, simultaneously permitting miR-297-mediated translational silencing. However, in hypoxia, cytoplasmic accumulation of Tyr³⁵⁹-phosphorylated hnRNP L sequesters miR-574-3p, overcoming its decoy activity and seed sequence-dependent gene silencing activity. Ectopically expressed miR-574-3p binds multiple RNA recognition motif (RRM) domains of hnRNP L, synergizes with miR-297, reduces VEGFA mRNA translation, and triggers apoptosis, thereby suppressing tumorigenesis. Our studies establish a novel condition-dependent interplay between a miRNA and an hnRNP that regulates their functions in a bidirectional manner.

CRAF gene fusions in pediatric low-grade gliomas define a distinct drug response based on dimerization profiles

Pediatric low-grade gliomas (PLGGs) are commonly associated with BRAF gene fusions that aberrantly activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. This has led to PLGG clinical trials utilizing RAF- and MAPK pathway-targeted therapeutics. Whole-genome profiling of PLGGs has also identified rare gene fusions involving another RAF isoform, CRAF/RAF1, in PLGGs and cancers occuring in adults. Whereas BRAF fusions primarily dysregulate MAPK signaling, the CRAF fusions QKI-RAF1 and SRGAP3-RAF1 aberrantly activate both the MAPK and phosphoinositide-3 kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/mTOR) signaling pathways. Although ATP-competitive, first-generation RAF inhibitors (vemurafenib/PLX4720, RAFi) cause paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway in BRAF-fusion tumors, inhibition can be achieved with ‘paradox breaker’ RAFi, such as PLX8394. Here we report that, unlike BRAF fusions, CRAF fusions are unresponsive to both generations of RAFi, vemurafenib and PLX8394, highlighting a distinct responsiveness of CRAF fusions to clinically relevant RAFi. Whereas PLX8394 decreased BRAF-fusion dimerization, CRAF-fusion dimerization is unaffected primarily because of robust protein–protein interactions mediated by the N-terminal non-kinase fusion partner, such as QKI. The pan-RAF dimer inhibitor, LY3009120, could suppress CRAF-fusion oncogenicity by inhibiting dimer-mediated signaling. In addition, as CRAF fusions activate both the MAPK and PI3K/mTOR signaling pathways, we identify combinatorial inhibition of the MAPK/mTOR pathway as a potential therapeutic strategy for CRAF-fusion-driven tumors. Overall, we define a mechanistic distinction between PLGG-associated BRAF- and CRAF/RAF1 fusions in response to RAFi, highlighting the importance of molecularly classifying PLGG patients for targeted therapy. Furthermore, our study uncovers an important contribution of the non-kinase fusion partner to oncogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies against PLGG-associated CRAF fusions and possibly pan-cancer CRAF fusions.

TCR Signal Strength Regulates Akt Substrate Specificity To Induce Alternate Murine Th and T Regulatory Cell Differentiation Programs

The Akt/mTOR pathway is a key driver of murine CD4⁺ T cell differentiation, and induction of regulatory T (Treg) cells results from low TCR signal strength and low Akt/mTOR signaling. However, strong TCR signals induce high Akt activity that promotes Th cell induction. Yet, it is unclear how Akt controls alternate T cell fate decisions. We find that the strength of the TCR signal results in differential Akt enzymatic activity. Surprisingly, the Akt substrate networks associated with T cell fate decisions are qualitatively different. Proteomic profiling of Akt signaling networks during Treg versus Th induction demonstrates that Akt differentially regulates RNA processing and splicing factors to drive T cell differentiation. Interestingly, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) L or hnRNP A1 are Akt substrates during Treg induction and have known roles in regulating the stability and splicing of key mRNAs that code for proteins in the canonical TCR signaling pathway, including CD3ζ and CD45. Functionally, inhibition of Akt enzymatic activity results in the dysregulation of splicing during T cell differentiation, and knockdown of hnRNP L or hnRNP A1 results in the lower induction of Treg cells. Together, this work suggests that a switch in substrate specificity coupled to the phosphorylation status of Akt may lead to alternative cell fates and demonstrates that proteins involved with alternative splicing are important factors in T cell fate decisions.

Alternative splicing as a regulator of development and tissue identity

Alternative splicing of eukaryotic transcripts is a mechanism that enables cells to generate vast protein diversity from a limited number of genes. The mechanisms and outcomes of alternative splicing of individual transcripts are relatively well understood, and recent efforts have been directed towards studying splicing networks. It has become apparent that coordinated splicing networks regulate tissue and organ development, and that alternative splicing has important physiological functions in different developmental processes in humans.

Alternative splicing: the pledge, the turn, and the prestige : The key role of alternative splicing in human biological systems

Alternative pre-mRNA splicing is a tightly controlled process conducted by the spliceosome, with the assistance of several regulators, resulting in the expression of different transcript isoforms from the same gene and increasing both transcriptome and proteome complexity. The differences between alternative isoforms may be subtle but enough to change the function or localization of the translated proteins. A fine control of the isoform balance is, therefore, needed throughout developmental stages and adult tissues or physiological conditions and it does not come as a surprise that several diseases are caused by its deregulation. In this review, we aim to bring the splicing machinery on stage and raise the curtain on its mechanisms and regulation throughout several systems and tissues of the human body, from neurodevelopment to the interactions with the human microbiome. We discuss, on one hand, the essential role of alternative splicing in assuring tissue function, diversity, and swiftness of response in these systems or tissues, and on the other hand, what goes wrong when its regulatory mechanisms fail. We also focus on the possibilities that splicing modulation therapies open for the future of personalized medicine, along with the leading techniques in this field. The final act of the spliceosome, however, is yet to be fully revealed, as more knowledge is needed regarding the complex regulatory network that coordinates alternative splicing and how its dysfunction leads to disease.

Suppression of 5' splice-sites through multiple exonic motifs by hnRNP L

Selection of 5' splice-sites (5'SS) in alternative splicing plays an important role in gene regulation. Although regulatory mechanisms of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNP L), a well-known splicing regulatory protein, have been studied in a substantial level, its role in 5'SS selection is not thoroughly defined. By using a KLF6 pre-mRNA alternative splicing model, we demonstrate in this report that hnRNP L inhibits proximal 5'SS but promotes two consecutive distal 5'SS splicing, antagonizing SRSF1 roles in KLF6 pre-mRNA splicing. In addition, three consecutive CA-rich sequences in a CA cassette immediately upstream of the proximal 5'SS are all required for hnRNP L functions. Importantly, the CA-cassette locations on the proximal exon do not affect hnRNP L roles. We further show that the proximal 5'SS but not the two distal 5'SSs are essential for hnRNP L activities. Notably, in a Bcl-x pre-mRNA model that contains two alternative 5'SS but includes CA-rich elements at distal exon, we demonstrate that hnRNP L also suppresses nearby 5'SS activation. Taken together, we conclude that hnRNP L suppresses 5'SS selection through multiple exonic motifs.

The lncRNA landscape of breast cancer reveals a role for DSCAM-AS1 in breast cancer progression

Molecular classification of cancers into subtypes has resulted in an advance in our understanding of tumour biology and treatment response across multiple tumour types. However, to date, cancer profiling has largely focused on protein-coding genes, which comprise <1% of the genome. Here we leverage a compendium of 58,648 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) to subtype 947 breast cancer samples. We show that lncRNA-based profiling categorizes breast tumours by their known molecular subtypes in breast cancer. We identify a cohort of breast cancer-associated and oestrogen-regulated lncRNAs, and investigate the role of the top prioritized oestrogen receptor (ER)-regulated lncRNA, DSCAM-AS1. We demonstrate that DSCAM-AS1 mediates tumour progression and tamoxifen resistance and identify hnRNPL as an interacting protein involved in the mechanism of DSCAM-AS1 action. By highlighting the role of DSCAM-AS1 in breast cancer biology and treatment resistance, this study provides insight into the potential clinical implications of lncRNAs in breast cancer.

LncRNAs have been associated with cancer. Here, the authors carry out a systematic review of lncRNAs in breast cancer and show that DSCAM-AS1 is highly expressed in oestrogen receptor positive tumours and enhances cancer through an interaction with hnRNPL; and is also associated with tamoxifen resistance.

Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein L is required for the survival and functional integrity of murine hematopoietic stem cells

The proliferation and survival of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has to be strictly coordinated to ensure the timely production of all blood cells. Here we report that the splice factor and RNA binding protein hnRNP L (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L) is required for hematopoiesis, since its genetic ablation in mice reduces almost all blood cell lineages and causes premature death of the animals. In agreement with this, we observed that hnRNP L deficient HSCs lack both the ability to self-renew and foster hematopoietic differentiation in transplanted hosts. They also display mitochondrial dysfunction, elevated levels of γH2AX, are Annexin V positive and incorporate propidium iodide indicating that they undergo cell death. Lin(-)c-Kit(+) fetal liver cells from hnRNP L deficient mice show high p53 protein levels and up-regulation of p53 target genes. In addition, cells lacking hnRNP L up-regulated the expression of the death receptors TrailR2 and CD95/Fas and show Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Parp cleavage. Treatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk, but not the deletion of p53, restored cell survival in hnRNP L deficient cells. Our data suggest that hnRNP L is critical for the survival and functional integrity of HSCs by restricting the activation of caspase-dependent death receptor pathways.

The Role of Alternative Splicing in the Control of Immune Homeostasis and Cellular Differentiation

Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA helps to enhance the genetic diversity within mammalian cells by increasing the number of protein isoforms that can be generated from one gene product. This provides a great deal of flexibility to the host cell to alter protein function, but when dysregulation in splicing occurs this can have important impact on health and disease. Alternative splicing is widely used in the mammalian immune system to control the development and function of antigen specific lymphocytes. In this review we will examine the splicing of pre-mRNAs yielding key proteins in the immune system that regulate apoptosis, lymphocyte differentiation, activation and homeostasis, and discuss how defects in splicing can contribute to diseases. We will describe how disruption to trans-acting factors, such as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), can impact on cell survival and differentiation in the immune system.

Convergence of Acquired Mutations and Alternative Splicing of CD19 Enables Resistance to CART-19 Immunotherapy

The CD19 antigen, expressed on most B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALL), can be targeted with chimeric antigen receptor-armed T cells (CART-19), but relapses with epitope loss occur in 10% to 20% of pediatric responders. We detected hemizygous deletions spanning the CD19 locus and de novo frameshift and missense mutations in exon 2 of CD19 in some relapse samples. However, we also discovered alternatively spliced CD19 mRNA species, including one lacking exon 2. Pull-down/siRNA experiments identified SRSF3 as a splicing factor involved in exon 2 retention, and its levels were lower in relapsed B-ALL. Using genome editing, we demonstrated that exon 2 skipping bypasses exon 2 mutations in B-ALL cells and allows expression of the N-terminally truncated CD19 variant, which fails to trigger killing by CART-19 but partly rescues defects associated with CD19 loss. Thus, this mechanism of resistance is based on a combination of deleterious mutations and ensuing selection for alternatively spliced RNA isoforms.

SIGNIFICANCE

CART-19 yield 70% response rates in patients with B-ALL, but also produce escape variants. We discovered that the underlying mechanism is the selection for preexisting alternatively spliced CD19 isoforms with the compromised CART-19 epitope. This mechanism suggests a possibility of targeting alternative CD19 ectodomains, which could improve survival of patients with B-cell neoplasms.

Global analysis of physical and functional RNA targets of hnRNP L reveals distinct sequence and epigenetic features of repressed and enhanced exons

HnRNP L is a ubiquitous splicing-regulatory protein that is critical for the development and function of mammalian T cells. Previous work has identified a few targets of hnRNP L-dependent alternative splicing in T cells and has described transcriptome-wide association of hnRNP L with RNA. However, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of hnRNP L on mRNA expression remains lacking. Here we use next-generation sequencing to identify transcriptome changes upon depletion of hnRNP L in a model T-cell line. We demonstrate that hnRNP L primarily regulates cassette-type alternative splicing, with minimal impact of hnRNP L depletion on transcript abundance, intron retention, or other modes of alternative splicing. Strikingly, we find that binding of hnRNP L within or flanking an exon largely correlates with exon repression by hnRNP L. In contrast, exons that are enhanced by hnRNP L generally lack proximal hnRNP L binding. Notably, these hnRNP L-enhanced exons share sequence and context features that correlate with poor nucleosome positioning, suggesting that hnRNP may enhance inclusion of a subset of exons via a cotranscriptional or epigenetic mechanism. Our data demonstrate that hnRNP L controls inclusion of a broad spectrum of alternative cassette exons in T cells and suggest both direct RNA regulation as well as indirect mechanisms sensitive to the epigenetic landscape.

TRAP150 interacts with the RNA-binding domain of PSF and antagonizes splicing of numerous PSF-target genes in T cells

PSF (a.k.a. SFPQ) is a ubiquitously expressed, essential nuclear protein with important roles in DNA damage repair and RNA biogenesis. In stimulated T cells, PSF binds to and suppresses the inclusion of CD45 exon 4 in the final mRNA; however, in resting cells, TRAP150 binds PSF and prevents access to the CD45 RNA, though the mechanism for this inhibition has remained unclear. Here, we show that TRAP150 binds a region encompassing the RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) of PSF using a previously uncharacterized, 70 residue region we have termed the PSF-interacting domain (PID). TRAP150's PID directly inhibits the interaction of PSF RRMs with RNA, which is mediated through RRM2. However, interaction of PSF with TRAP150 does not appear to inhibit the dimerization of PSF with other Drosophila Behavior, Human Splicing (DBHS) proteins, which is also dependent on RRM2. Finally, we use RASL-Seq to identify ∼40 T cell splicing events sensitive to PSF knockdown, and show that for the majority of these, PSF's effect is antagonized by TRAP150. Together these data suggest a model in which TRAP150 interacts with dimeric PSF to block access of RNA to RRM2, thereby regulating the activity of PSF toward a broad set of splicing events in T cells.

The Signature of the Five-Stranded vRRM Fold Defined by Functional, Structural and Computational Analysis of the hnRNP L Protein

The RNA recognition motif (RRM) is the far most abundant RNA binding domain. In addition to the typical β1α1β2β3α2β4 fold, various sub-structural elements have been described and reportedly contribute to the high functional versatility of RRMs. The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNP L) is a highly abundant protein of 64 kDa comprising four RRM domains. Involved in many aspects of RNA metabolism, hnRNP L specifically binds to RNAs containing CA repeats or CA-rich clusters. However, a comprehensive structural description of hnRNP L including its sub-structural elements is missing. Here, we present the structural characterization of the RRM domains of hnRNP L and demonstrate their function in repressing exon 4 of SLC2A2. By comparison of the sub-structural elements between the two highly similar paralog families of hnRNP L and PTB, we defined signatures underlying interacting C-terminal coils (ICCs), the RRM34 domain interaction and RRMs with a C-terminal fifth β-strand, a variation we denoted vRRMs. Furthermore, computational analysis revealed new putative ICC-containing RRM families and allowed us to propose an evolutionary scenario explaining the origins of the ICC and fifth β-strand sub-structural extensions. Our studies provide insights of domain requirements in alternative splicing mediated by hnRNP L and molecular descriptions for the sub-structural elements. In addition, the analysis presented may help to classify other abundant RRM extensions and to predict structure-function relationships.

Context-dependent control of alternative splicing by RNA-binding proteins

Sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) bind to pre-mRNA to control alternative splicing, but it is not yet possible to read the 'splicing code' that dictates splicing regulation on the basis of genome sequence. Each alternative splicing event is controlled by multiple RBPs, the combined action of which creates a distribution of alternatively spliced products in a given cell type. As each cell type expresses a distinct array of RBPs, the interpretation of regulatory information on a given RNA target is exceedingly dependent on the cell type. RBPs also control each other's functions at many levels, including by mutual modulation of their binding activities on specific regulatory RNA elements. In this Review, we describe some of the emerging rules that govern the highly context-dependent and combinatorial nature of alternative splicing regulation.

Crosslinking-immunoprecipitation (iCLIP) analysis reveals global regulatory roles of hnRNP L

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNP L) is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein that is involved in many different processes, such as regulation of transcription, translation, and RNA stability. We have previously characterized hnRNP L as a global regulator of alternative splicing, binding to CA-repeat, and CA-rich RNA elements. Interestingly, hnRNP L can both activate and repress splicing of alternative exons, but the precise mechanism of hnRNP L-mediated splicing regulation remained unclear. To analyze activities of hnRNP L on a genome-wide level, we performed individual-nucleotide resolution crosslinking-immunoprecipitation in combination with deep-sequencing (iCLIP-Seq). Sequence analysis of the iCLIP crosslink sites showed significant enrichment of C/A motifs, which perfectly agrees with the in vitro binding consensus obtained earlier by a SELEX approach, indicating that in vivo hnRNP L binding targets are mainly determined by the RNA-binding activity of the protein. Genome-wide mapping of hnRNP L binding revealed that the protein preferably binds to introns and 3' UTR. Additionally, position-dependent splicing regulation by hnRNP L was demonstrated: The protein represses splicing when bound to intronic regions upstream of alternative exons, and in contrast, activates splicing when bound to the downstream intron. These findings shed light on the longstanding question of differential hnRNP L-mediated splicing regulation. Finally, regarding 3' UTR binding, hnRNP L binding preferentially overlaps with predicted microRNA target sites, indicating global competition between hnRNP L and microRNA binding. Translational regulation by hnRNP L was validated for a subset of predicted target 3'UTRs.

The RNA-binding protein hnRNPLL induces a T cell alternative splicing program delineated by differential intron retention in polyadenylated RNA

BACKGROUND

Retention of a subset of introns in spliced polyadenylated mRNA is emerging as a frequent, unexplained finding from RNA deep sequencing in mammalian cells.

RESULTS

Here we analyze intron retention in T lymphocytes by deep sequencing polyadenylated RNA. We show a developmentally regulated RNA-binding protein, hnRNPLL, induces retention of specific introns by sequencing RNA from T cells with an inactivating Hnrpll mutation and from B lymphocytes that physiologically downregulate Hnrpll during their differentiation. In Ptprc mRNA encoding the tyrosine phosphatase CD45, hnRNPLL induces selective retention of introns flanking exons 4 to 6; these correspond to the cassette exons containing hnRNPLL binding sites that are skipped in cells with normal, but not mutant or low, hnRNPLL. We identify similar patterns of hnRNPLL-induced differential intron retention flanking alternative exons in 14 other genes, representing novel elements of the hnRNPLL-induced splicing program in T cells. Retroviral expression of a normally spliced cDNA for one of these targets, Senp2, partially corrects the survival defect of Hnrpll-mutant T cells. We find that integrating a number of computational methods to detect genes with differentially retained introns provides a strategy to enrich for alternatively spliced exons in mammalian RNA-seq data, when complemented by RNA-seq analysis of purified cells with experimentally perturbed RNA-binding proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that intron retention in mRNA is induced by specific RNA-binding proteins and suggest a biological significance for this process in marking exons that are poised for alternative splicing.

Paralogs hnRNP L and hnRNP LL exhibit overlapping but distinct RNA binding constraints

HnRNP (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein) proteins are a large family of RNA-binding proteins that regulate numerous aspects of RNA processing. Interestingly, several paralogous pairs of hnRNPs exist that exhibit similar RNA-binding specificity to one another, yet have non-redundant functional targets in vivo. In this study we systematically investigate the possibility that the paralogs hnRNP L and hnRNP LL have distinct RNA binding determinants that may underlie their lack of functional redundancy. Using a combination of RNAcompete and native gel analysis we find that while both hnRNP L and hnRNP LL preferentially bind sequences that contain repeated CA dinucleotides, these proteins differ in their requirement for the spacing of the CAs. Specifically, hnRNP LL has a more stringent requirement for a two nucleotide space between CA repeats than does hnRNP L, resulting in hnRNP L binding more promiscuously than does hnRNP LL. Importantly, this differential requirement for the spacing of CA dinucleotides explains the previously observed differences in the sensitivity of hnRNP L and LL to mutations within the CD45 gene. We suggest that overlapping but divergent RNA-binding preferences, as we show here for hnRNP L and hnRNP LL, may be commonplace among other hnRNP paralogs.