HMGA1a trapping of U1 snRNP at an authentic 5' splice site induces aberrant exon skipping in sporadic Alzheimer's disease

HMGA1 deficiency: a pathogenic link between tau pathology and insulin resistance

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence links tau-related neurodegeneration with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D), though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our previous research identified HMGA1 as crucial for insulin receptor (INSR) expression, with defects in the HMGA1 gene associated with insulin resistance and T2D. Here, we explore HMGA1 deficiency as a potential contributor to tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), and its connection to insulin resistance.

METHODS

Immunoblot analyses, protein-DNA interaction studies, ChIP-qPCR, and reporter gene assays were conducted in human and mouse neuronal cell models. Tau immunohistochemistry, behavioural studies, and brain glucose metabolism were analysed in Hmga1-knockout mice. Additionally, a case-control study investigated the relationship between HMGA1 and tau pathology in patients with tauopathy, carrying or not the HMGA1 rs146052672 variant, known to reduce HMGA1 protein levels and increase the risk of insulin resistance and T2D.

FINDINGS

We show that HMGA1 regulates tau protein expression primarily through the specific repression of MAPT gene transcription. In both human neuronal cells and primary mouse neurons, tau mRNA and protein levels were inversely correlated with HMGA1 expression. This inverse relationship was further confirmed in the brain of Hmga1-knockout mice, where tau was overexpressed, INSR was downregulated, and brain glucose uptake was impaired. Additionally, the rs146052672 variant was more common in patients with tauopathy (12/69, 17.4%) than in controls (10/200, 5.0%) (p = 0.001), and carriers of this variant exhibited more severe disease progression and poorer therapeutic outcomes.

INTERPRETATION

These findings suggest that HMGA1 deficiency may drive tau pathology, linking tauopathies to insulin resistance and providing new insights into the relationship between metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, our observation that over 17% of individuals with tauopathy exhibit a deficit in HMGA1 protein production could have significant clinical implications, potentially guiding the development of therapeutic strategies targeting this specific defect.

FUNDING

See acknowledgements section.

The plasma peptides of Alzheimer's disease

Background

A practical strategy to discover proteins specific to Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) may be to compare the plasma peptides and proteins from patients with dementia to normal controls and patients with neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis or other diseases. The aim was a proof of principle for a method to discover proteins and/or peptides of plasma that show greater observation frequency and/or precursor intensity in AD. The endogenous tryptic peptides of Alzheimer’s were compared to normals, multiple sclerosis, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, female normal, sepsis, ICU Control, heart attack, along with their institution-matched controls, and normal samples collected directly onto ice.

Methods

Endogenous tryptic peptides were extracted from blinded, individual AD and control EDTA plasma samples in a step gradient of acetonitrile for random and independent sampling by LC–ESI–MS/MS with a set of robust and sensitive linear quadrupole ion traps. The MS/MS spectra were fit to fully tryptic peptides within proteins identified using the X!TANDEM algorithm. Observation frequency of the identified proteins was counted using SEQUEST algorithm. The proteins with apparently increased observation frequency in AD versus AD Control were revealed graphically and subsequently tested by Chi Square analysis. The proteins specific to AD plasma by Chi Square with FDR correction were analyzed by the STRING algorithm. The average protein or peptide log₁₀ precursor intensity was compared across disease and control treatments by ANOVA in the R statistical system.

Results

Peptides and/or phosphopeptides of common plasma proteins such as complement C2, C7, and C1QBP among others showed increased observation frequency by Chi Square and/or precursor intensity in AD. Cellular gene symbols with large Chi Square values (χ2 ≥ 25, p ≤ 0.001) from tryptic peptides included KIF12, DISC1, OR8B12, ZC3H12A, TNF, TBC1D8B, GALNT3, EME2, CD1B, BAG1, CPSF2, MMP15, DNAJC2, PHACTR4, OR8B3, GCK, EXOSC7, HMGA1 and NT5C3A among others. Similarly, increased frequency of tryptic phosphopeptides were observed from MOK, SMIM19, NXNL1, SLC24A2, Nbla10317, AHRR, C10orf90, MAEA, SRSF8, TBATA, TNIK, UBE2G1, PDE4C, PCGF2, KIR3DP1, TJP2, CPNE8, and NGF amongst others. STRING analysis showed an increase in cytoplasmic proteins and proteins associated with alternate splicing, exocytosis of luminal proteins, and proteins involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, mitochondrial functions or metabolism and apoptosis. Increases in mean precursor intensity of peptides from common plasma proteins such as DISC1, EXOSC5, UBE2G1, SMIM19, NXNL1, PANO, EIF4G1, KIR3DP1, MED25, MGRN1, OR8B3, MGC24039, POLR1A, SYTL4, RNF111, IREB2, ANKMY2, SGKL, SLC25A5, CHMP3 among others were associated with AD. Tryptic peptides from the highly conserved C-terminus of DISC1 within the sequence MPGGGPQGAPAAAGGGGVSHRAGSRDCLPPAACFR and ARQCGLDSR showed a higher frequency and highest intensity in AD compared to all other disease and controls.

Conclusion

Proteins apparently expressed in the brain that were directly related to Alzheimer’s including Nerve Growth Factor (NFG), Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase, Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), the cell death regulator retinitis pigmentosa (NXNl1) that governs the loss of nerve cells in the retina and the cell death regulator ZC3H12A showed much higher observation frequency in AD plasma vs the matched control. There was a striking agreement between the proteins known to be mutated or dis-regulated in the brains of AD patients with the proteins observed in the plasma of AD patients from endogenous peptides including NBN, BAG1, NOX1, PDCD5, SGK3, UBE2G1, SMPD3 neuronal proteins associated with synapse function such as KSYTL4, VTI1B and brain specific proteins such as TBATA.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12014-021-09320-2.

Phylogenetic comparison and splice site conservation of eukaryotic U1 snRNP-specific U1-70K gene family

Eukaryotic cells can expand their coding ability by using their splicing machinery, spliceosome, to process precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) into mature messenger RNA. The mega-macromolecular spliceosome contains multiple subcomplexes, referred to as small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). Among these, U1 snRNP and its central component, U1-70K, are crucial for splice site recognition during early spliceosome assembly. The human U1-70K has been linked to several types of human autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. However, its phylogenetic relationship has been seldom reported. To this end, we carried out a systemic analysis of 95 animal U1-70K genes and compare these proteins to their yeast and plant counterparts. Analysis of their gene and protein structures, expression patterns and splicing conservation suggest that animal U1-70Ks are conserved in their molecular function, and may play essential role in cancers and juvenile development. In particular, animal U1-70Ks display unique characteristics of single copy number and a splicing isoform with truncated C-terminal, suggesting the specific role of these U1-70Ks in animal kingdom. In summary, our results provide phylogenetic overview of U1-70K gene family in vertebrates. In silico analyses conducted in this work will act as a reference for future functional studies of this crucial U1 splicing factor in animal kingdom.

Phylogenetic comparison of 5' splice site determination in central spliceosomal proteins of the U1-70K gene family, in response to developmental cues and stress conditions

Intron-containing genes have the ability to generate multiple transcript isoforms by splicing, thereby greatly expanding the eukaryotic transcriptome and proteome. In eukaryotic cells, precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) splicing is performed by a mega-macromolecular complex defined as a spliceosome. Among its splicing components, U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) is the smallest subcomplex involved in early spliceosome assembly and 5'-splice site recognition. Its central component, named U1-70K, has been extensively characterized in animals and yeast. Very few investigations on U1-70K genes have been conducted in plants, however. To this end, we performed a comprehensive study to systematically identify 115 U1-70K genes from 67 plant species, ranging from algae to angiosperms. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the expansion of the plant U1-70K gene family was likely to have been driven by whole-genome duplications. Subsequent comparisons of gene structures, protein domains, promoter regions and conserved splicing patterns indicated that plant U1-70Ks are likely to preserve their conserved molecular function across plant lineages and play an important functional role in response to environmental stresses. Furthermore, genetic analysis using T-DNA insertion mutants suggested that Arabidopsis U1-70K may be involved in response to osmotic stress. Our results provide a general overview of this gene family in Viridiplantae and will act as a reference source for future mechanistic studies on this U1 snRNP-specific splicing factor.

Innate Immunity: A Common Denominator between Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Diseases

The intricate relationships between innate immunity and brain diseases raise increased interest across the wide spectrum of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Barriers, such as the blood–brain barrier, and innate immunity cells such as microglia, astrocytes, macrophages, and mast cells are involved in triggering disease events in these groups, through the action of many different cytokines. Chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunctions in large-scale brain networks. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia, are associated with a substrate of dysregulated immune responses that impair the central nervous system balance. Recent evidence suggests that similar phenomena are involved in psychiatric diseases, such as depression, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The present review summarizes and discusses the main evidence linking the innate immunological response in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, thus providing insights into how the responses of innate immunity represent a common denominator between diseases belonging to the neurological and psychiatric sphere. Improved knowledge of such immunological aspects could provide the framework for the future development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Meta-Analysis of Gene Expression Changes in the Blood of Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Dementia

Background: Dementia is a major public health concern affecting approximately 47 million people worldwide. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is one form of dementia that affects an individual’s memory with or without affecting their daily life. Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD) is a more severe form of dementia that usually affects elderly individuals. It remains unclear whether MCI is a distinct disorder from or an early stage of ADD. Methods: Gene expression data from blood were analyzed to identify potential biomarkers that may be useful for distinguishing between these two forms of dementia. Results: A meta-analysis revealed 91 genes dysregulated in individuals with MCI and 387 genes dysregulated in ADD. Pathway analysis identified seven pathways shared between MCI and ADD and nine ADD-specific pathways. Fifteen transcription factors were associated with MCI and ADD, whereas seven transcription factors were specific for ADD. Mir-335-5p was specific for ADD, suggesting that it may be useful as a biomarker. Diseases that are associated with MCI and ADD included developmental delays, cognition impairment, and movement disorders. Conclusion: These results provide a better molecular understanding of peripheral changes that occur in MCI and ADD patients and may be useful in the identification of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

A mechanism underlying position-specific regulation of alternative splicing

Many RNA-binding proteins including a master regulator of splicing in developing brain and muscle, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1), can either activate or repress alternative exons depending on the pre-mRNA recruitment position. When bound upstream or within regulated exons PTBP1 tends to promote their skipping, whereas binding to downstream sites often stimulates inclusion. How this switch is orchestrated at the molecular level is poorly understood. Using bioinformatics and biochemical approaches we show that interaction of PTBP1 with downstream intronic sequences can activate natural cassette exons by promoting productive docking of the spliceosomal U1 snRNP to a suboptimal 5' splice site. Strikingly, introducing upstream PTBP1 sites to this circuitry leads to a potent splicing repression accompanied by the assembly of an exonic ribonucleoprotein complex with a tightly bound U1 but not U2 snRNP. Our data suggest a molecular mechanism underlying the transition between a better-known repressive function of PTBP1 and its role as a bona fide splicing activator. More generally, we argue that the functional outcome of individual RNA contacts made by an RNA-binding protein is subject to extensive context-specific modulation.

Emerging pathways to neurodegeneration: Dissecting the critical molecular mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease

Neurodegenerative diseases are usually sporadic in nature and commonly influenced by a wide range of genetic, life style and environmental factors. A unifying feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is the abnormal accumulation and processing of mutant or damaged intra and extracellular proteins; this leads to neuronal vulnerability and dysfunction in the brain. Through a detailed review of ubiquitin proteasome, mRNA splicing, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress pathway interrelation on neurodegeneration can improve the understanding of the disease mechanism. The identified pathways common to AD and PD nominate promising new targets for further studies, and as well as biomarkers. These insights suggested would likely provide major stimuli for developing unified treatment approaches to combat neurodegeneration. More broadly, pathways can serve as vehicles for integrating findings from diverse studies of neurodegeneration. The evidence examined in this review provides a brief overview of the current literature on significant pathways in promoting in AD, PD. Additionally, these insights suggest that biomarkers and treatment strategies may require simultaneous targeting of multiple components.

HMGA1a induces alternative splicing of estrogen receptor alpha in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

The high-mobility group A protein 1a (HMGA1a) protein is known as an oncogene whose expression level in cancer tissue correlates with the malignant potential, and known as a component of senescence-related structures connecting it to tumor suppressor networks in fibroblasts. HMGA1 protein binds to DNA, but recent studies have shown it exerts novel functions through RNA-binding. Our previous studies have shown that sequence-specific RNA-binding of HMGA1a induces exon-skipping of Presenilin-2 exon 5 in sporadic Alzheimer disease. Here we show that HMGA1a induced exon-skipping of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) gene and increased ERα46 mRNA expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. An RNA-decoy of HMGA1a efficiently blocked this event and reduced ERα46 protein expression. Blockage of HMGA1a RNA-binding property consequently induced cell growth through reduced ERα46 expression in MCF-7 cells and increased sensitivity to tamoxifen in the tamoxifen-resistant cell line, MCF-7/TAMR1. Stable expression of an HMGA1a RNA-decoy in MCF-7 cells exhibited decreased ERα46 protein expression and increased estrogen-dependent tumor growth when these cells were implanted in nude mice. These results show HMGA1a is involved in alternative splicing of the ERα gene and related to estrogen-related growth as well as tamoxifen sensitivity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

HMGA1a Induces Alternative Splicing of the Estrogen Receptor-αlpha Gene by Trapping U1 snRNP to an Upstream Pseudo-5' Splice Site

Objectives: The high-mobility group A protein 1a (HMGA1a) protein is known as a transcription factor that binds to DNA, but recent studies have shown it exerts novel functions through RNA-binding. We were prompted to decipher the mechanism of HMGA1a-induced alternative splicing of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) that we recently reported would alter tamoxifen sensitivity in MCF-7 TAMR1 cells.

Methods: Endogenous expression of full length ERα66 and its isoform ERα46 were evaluated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by transient expression of HMGA1a and an RNA decoy (2′-O-methylated RNA of the HMGA1a RNA-binding site) that binds to HMGA1a. RNA-binding of HMGA1a was checked by RNA-EMSA. In vitro splicing assay was performed to check the direct involvement of HMGA1a in splicing regulation. RNA-EMSA assay in the presence of purified U1 snRNP was performed with psoralen UV crosslinking to check complex formation of HMGA1a-U1 snRNP at the upstream pseudo-5′ splice site of exon 1.

Results: HMGA1a induced exon skipping of a shortened exon 1 of ERα in in vitro splicing assays that was blocked by the HMGA1a RNA decoy and sequence-specific RNA-binding was confirmed by RNA-EMSA. RNA-EMSA combined with psoralen UV crosslinking showed that HMGA1a trapped purified U1 snRNP at the upstream pseudo-5′ splice site.

Conclusions: Regulation of ERα alternative splicing by an HMGA1a-trapped U1 snRNP complex at the upstream 5′ splice site of exon 1 offers novel insight on 5′ splice site regulation by U1 snRNP as well as a promising target in breast cancer therapy where alternative splicing of ERα is involved.

U1 snRNP Alteration and Neuronal Cell Cycle Reentry in Alzheimer Disease

The aberrancy of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complex and RNA splicing has been demonstrated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Importantly, the U1 proteopathy is AD-specific, widespread and early-occurring, thus providing a very unique clue to the AD pathogenesis. The prominent feature of U1 histopathology is its nuclear depletion and redistribution in the neuronal cytoplasm. According to the preliminary data, the initial U1 cytoplasmic distribution pattern is similar to the subcellular translocation of the spliceosome in cells undergoing mitosis. This implies that the U1 mislocalization might reflect the neuronal cell cycle-reentry (CCR) which has been extensively evidenced in AD brains. The CCR phenomenon explains the major molecular and cellular events in AD brains, such as Tau and amyloid precursor protein (APP) phosphorylation, and the possible neuronal death through mitotic catastrophe (MC). Furthermore, the CCR might be mechanistically linked to inflammation, a critical factor in the AD etiology according to the genetic evidence. Therefore, the discovery of U1 aberrancy might strengthen the involvement of CCR in the AD neuronal degeneration.

U1 snRNP Alteration and Neuronal Cell Cycle Reentry in Alzheimer Disease

The aberrancy of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complex and RNA splicing has been demonstrated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, the U1 proteopathy is AD-specific, widespread and early-occurring, thus providing a very unique clue to the AD pathogenesis. The prominent feature of U1 histopathology is its nuclear depletion and redistribution in the neuronal cytoplasm. According to the preliminary data, the initial U1 cytoplasmic distribution pattern is similar to the subcellular translocation of the spliceosome in cells undergoing mitosis. This implies that the U1 mislocalization might reflect the neuronal cell cycle-reentry (CCR) which has been extensively evidenced in AD brains. The CCR phenomenon explains the major molecular and cellular events in AD brains, such as Tau and amyloid precursor protein (APP) phosphorylation, and the possible neuronal death through mitotic catastrophe (MC). Furthermore, the CCR might be mechanistically linked to inflammation, a critical factor in the AD etiology according to the genetic evidence. Therefore, the discovery of U1 aberrancy might strengthen the involvement of CCR in the AD neuronal degeneration.

Saturation mutagenesis reveals manifold determinants of exon definition

To illuminate the extent and roles of exonic sequences in the splicing of human RNA transcripts, we conducted saturation mutagenesis of a 51-nt internal exon in a three-exon minigene. All possible single and tandem dinucleotide substitutions were surveyed. Using high-throughput genetics, 5560 minigene molecules were assayed for splicing in human HEK293 cells. Up to 70% of mutations produced substantial (greater than twofold) phenotypes of either increased or decreased splicing. Of all predicted secondary structural elements, only a single 15-nt stem–loop showed a strong correlation with splicing, acting negatively. The in vitro formation of exon-protein complexes between the mutant molecules and proteins associated with spliceosome formation (U2AF35, U2AF65, U1A, and U1-70K) correlated with splicing efficiencies, suggesting exon definition as the step affected by most mutations. The measured relative binding affinities of dozens of human RNA binding protein domains as reported in the CISBP-RNA database were found to correlate either positively or negatively with splicing efficiency, more than could fit on the 51-nt test exon simultaneously. The large number of these functional protein binding correlations point to a dynamic and heterogeneous population of pre-mRNA molecules, each responding to a particular collection of binding proteins.

RBM24 promotes U1 snRNP recognition of the mutated 5' splice site in the IKBKAP gene of familial dysautonomia

The 5' splice site mutation (IVS20+6T>C) of the inhibitor of κ light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells, kinase complex-associated protein (IKBKAP) gene in familial dysautonomia (FD) is at the sixth intronic nucleotide of the 5' splice site. It is known to weaken U1 snRNP recognition and result in an aberrantly spliced mRNA product in neuronal tissue, but normally spliced mRNA in other tissues. Aberrantly spliced IKBKAP mRNA abrogates IKK complex-associated protein (IKAP)/elongator protein 1 (ELP1) expression and results in a defect of neuronal cell development in FD. To elucidate the tissue-dependent regulatory mechanism, we screened an expression library of major RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with our mammalian dual-color splicing reporter system and identified RBM24 as a regulator. RBM24 functioned as a cryptic intronic splicing enhancer binding to an element (IVS20+13-29) downstream from the intronic 5' splice site mutation in the IKBKAP gene and promoted U1 snRNP recognition only to the mutated 5' splice site (and not the wild-type 5' splice site). Our results show that tissue-specific expression of RBM24 can explain the neuron-specific aberrant splicing of IKBKAP exon 20 in familial dysautonomia, and that ectopic expression of RBM24 in neuronal tissue could be a novel therapeutic target of the disease.

A Shotgun Proteomics Approach Reveals a New Toxic Role for Alzheimer's Disease Aβ Peptide: Spliceosome Impairment

Proteomic changes have been described in many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the early events in the onset of the pathology are yet to be fully elucidated. A cell model system in which LAN5 neuroblastoma cells were incubated for a short time with a recombinant form of Aβ₄₂ was utilized. Proteins extracted from these cells were subjected to shotgun proteomics analysis by LTQ-Orbitrap-MS followed by label-free quantitation. By bioinformatics tools we found that the most significant of those found to be up-regulated were related to cytoskeletal dynamics (Rho related) and membrane-related processes. The most significant of the down-regulated proteins were hnRNP-related. In particular, hnRNPs involved in ribosomal biogenesis and in splicing were down-regulated. The latter of these processes stood out as it was highlighted ubiquitously and with the highest significance in the results of every analysis. Furthermore, our findings revealed down-regulation at every stage of the splicing process through down-regulation of every subunit of the spliceosome. Dysregulation of the spliceosome was also confirmed using a Western blot. In conclusion, these data suggest dysregulation of the proteins and processes identified as early events in pathogenesis of AD following Aβ accumulation.

The High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1) Transcriptome in Cancer and Development

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Chromatin structure is the single most important feature that distinguishes a cancer cell from a normal cell histologically. Chromatin remodeling proteins regulate chromatin structure and high mobility group A (HMGA1) proteins are among the most abundant, nonhistone chromatin remodeling proteins found in cancer cells. These proteins include HMGA1a/HMGA1b isoforms, which result from alternatively spliced mRNA. The HMGA1 gene is overexpressed in cancer and high levels portend a poor prognosis in diverse tumors. HMGA1 is also highly expressed during embryogenesis and postnatally in adult stem cells. Overexpression of HMGA1 drives neoplastic transformation in cultured cells, while inhibiting HMGA1 blocks oncogenic and cancer stem cell properties. Hmga1 transgenic mice succumb to aggressive tumors, demonstrating that dysregulated expression of HMGA1 causes cancer in vivo. HMGA1 is also required for reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. HMGA1 proteins function as ancillary transcription factors that bend chromatin and recruit other transcription factors to DNA. They induce oncogenic transformation by activating or repressing specific genes involved in this process and an HMGA1 "transcriptome" is emerging. Although prior studies reveal potent oncogenic properties of HMGA1, we are only beginning to understand the molecular mechanisms through which HMGA1 functions. In this review, we summarize the list of putative downstream transcriptional targets regulated by HMGA1. We also briefly discuss studies linking HMGA1 to Alzheimer's disease and type-2 diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Further elucidation of HMGA1 function should lead to novel therapeutic strategies for cancer and possibly for other diseases associated with aberrant HMGA1 expression.

High mobility group (HMG) proteins: Modulators of chromatin structure and DNA repair in mammalian cells

It has been almost a decade since the last review appeared comparing and contrasting the influences that the different families of High Mobility Group proteins (HMGA, HMGB and HMGN) have on the various DNA repair pathways in mammalian cells. During that time considerable progress has been made in our understanding of how these non-histone proteins modulate the efficiency of DNA repair by all of the major cellular pathways: nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, double-stand break repair and mismatch repair. Although there are often similar and over-lapping biological activities shared by all HMG proteins, members of each of the different families appear to have a somewhat 'individualistic' impact on various DNA repair pathways. This review will focus on what is currently known about the roles that different HMG proteins play in DNA repair processes and discuss possible future research areas in this rapidly evolving field.

HnRNP L and hnRNP LL antagonistically modulate PTB-mediated splicing suppression of CHRNA1 pre-mRNA

CHRNA1 gene, encoding the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha subunit, harbors an inframe exon P3A. Inclusion of exon P3A disables assembly of the acetylcholine receptor subunits. A single nucleotide mutation in exon P3A identified in congenital myasthenic syndrome causes exclusive inclusion of exon P3A. The mutation gains a de novo binding affinity for a splicing enhancing RNA-binding protein, hnRNP LL, and displaces binding of a splicing suppressing RNA-binding protein, hnRNP L. The hnRNP L binds to another splicing repressor PTB through the proline-rich region and promotes PTB binding to the polypyrimidine tract upstream of exon P3A, whereas hnRNP LL lacking the proline-rich region cannot bind to PTB. Interaction of hnRNP L with PTB inhibits association of U2AF(65) and U1 snRNP with the upstream and downstream of P3A, respectively, which causes a defect in exon P3A definition. HnRNP L and hnRNP LL thus antagonistically modulate PTB-mediated splicing suppression of exon P3A.

Pick one, but be quick: 5' splice sites and the problems of too many choices

Splice site selection is fundamental to pre-mRNA splicing and the expansion of genomic coding potential. 5' Splice sites (5'ss) are the critical elements at the 5' end of introns and are extremely diverse, as thousands of different sequences act as bona fide 5'ss in the human transcriptome. Most 5'ss are recognized by base-pairing with the 5' end of the U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA). Here we review the history of research on 5'ss selection, highlighting the difficulties of establishing how base-pairing strength determines splicing outcomes. We also discuss recent work demonstrating that U1 snRNA:5'ss helices can accommodate noncanonical registers such as bulged duplexes. In addition, we describe the mechanisms by which other snRNAs, regulatory proteins, splicing enhancers, and the relative positions of alternative 5'ss contribute to selection. Moreover, we discuss mechanisms by which the recognition of numerous candidate 5'ss might lead to selection of a single 5'ss and propose that protein complexes propagate along the exon, thereby changing its physical behavior so as to affect 5'ss selection.

Tailoring of membrane proteins by alternative splicing of pre-mRNA

Alternative splicing (AS) of RNA is a key mechanism for diversification of the eukaryotic proteome. In this process, different mRNA transcripts can be produced through altered excision and/or inclusion of exons during processing of the pre-mRNA molecule. Since its discovery, AS has been shown to play roles in protein structure, function, and localization. Dysregulation of this process can result in disease phenotypes. Moreover, AS pathways are promising therapeutic targets for a number of diseases. Integral membrane proteins (MPs) represent a class of proteins that may be particularly amenable to regulation by alternative splicing because of the distinctive topological restraints associated with their folding, structure, trafficking, and function. Here, we review the impact of AS on MP form and function and the roles of AS in MP-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Genomics of Dementia: APOE- and CYP2D6-Related Pharmacogenetics

Dementia is a major problem of health in developed societies. Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia, and mixed dementia account for over 90% of the most prevalent forms of dementia. Both genetic and environmental factors are determinant for the phenotypic expression of dementia. AD is a complex disorder in which many different gene clusters may be involved. Most genes screened to date belong to different proteomic and metabolomic pathways potentially affecting AD pathogenesis. The ε4 variant of the APOE gene seems to be a major risk factor for both degenerative and vascular dementia. Metabolic factors, cerebrovascular disorders, and epigenetic phenomena also contribute to neurodegeneration. Five categories of genes are mainly involved in pharmacogenomics: genes associated with disease pathogenesis, genes associated with the mechanism of action of a particular drug, genes associated with phase I and phase II metabolic reactions, genes associated with transporters, and pleiotropic genes and/or genes associated with concomitant pathologies. The APOE and CYP2D6 genes have been extensively studied in AD. The therapeutic response to conventional drugs in patients with AD is genotype specific, with CYP2D6-PMs, CYP2D6-UMs, and APOE-4/4 carriers acting as the worst responders. APOE and CYP2D6 may cooperate, as pleiotropic genes, in the metabolism of drugs and hepatic function. The introduction of pharmacogenetic procedures into AD pharmacological treatment may help to optimize therapeutics.

The response of HMGA1 to changes in oxygen availability is evolutionarily conserved

Zebrafish embryos have evolved to cope with hypoxia during development. This includes the ability to completely suspend embryo development for extended periods until normoxia is restored. However, only a limited number of studies have examined the gene regulatory responses of zebrafish embryos to hypoxia. The High Mobility Group A1 protein encoded by the mammalian gene HMGA1 is widely expressed during embryo development but not in adults. Its expression can be induced in adult neurons by hypoxia/oxidative stress and it is commonly reactivated in many types of cancer. We report the identification by phylogenetic and conserved synteny analyses of an HMGA1 orthologue in zebrafish, hmga1 (hmg-i/y) and analysis of sodium azide as a chemical agent for inducing hypoxia-like responses in zebrafish embryos including temporary suspension of development ("suspended animation"). Evidence was only found for the existence of the "a" isoform of HMGA1 in fish. The "b" and "c" isoforms were not detected. We show that zebrafish hmga1 is expressed in a manner similar to in mammals including its induction by hypoxia during hatching stage and in adult zebrafish brain. However, earlier during development, hypoxia causes a decrease in hmga1 transcript levels. By analysis of conservation of the HMGA1a isoform binding site in zebrafish psen2 gene transcripts, we predict that a zebrafish equivalent of the PS2V isoform of human PSEN2 is not formed and we support this by RT-PCR analyses. Thus, analysis of hmga1 function in zebrafish embryogenesis may be valuable for understanding its wider role in vertebrate development, cancer and cellular responses to hypoxia but not for analysis of the action of HMGA1 in PS2V formation.

HMGA1a is involved in specific splice site regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) utilizes a highly complex splice site regulation system, taking advantage of host proteins, to express its own viral protein in an orderly way. We show here that one of the host proteins, high mobility group A protein 1a (HMGA1a), is involved in splice site regulation of 3' splice site 2 (A2) and 5'splice site 3 (D3) of HIV-1 genomic RNA. shRNA knockdown of HMGA1 in HeLa cells resulting in a decrease of HMGA1 showed a significant decrease of Vpr mRNA. RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed HMGA1a specifically binds to a sequence adjacently upstream D3. In vitro splicing using heterologous pre-mRNA with A2 and D3, showed HMGA1a induced a splicing intermediate which decreased when an RNA decoy of the HMGA1a binding site was added. RT-PCR of in vitro splicing products revealed that HMGA1a induced an incomplete splicing product resulting from usage of A2 but inhibition of D3, which is reminiscent of the splicing pattern necessary for Vpr mRNA formation. HMGA1a interacted with hnRNPA1 shown by coimmunoprecipitation and supershifted U1 snRNP in an RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assay. We conclude that HMGA1a anchors U1 snRNP to inhibit D3 function, and that HMGA1a inhibits hnRNPA1 function on exon splicing silencer of Vpr (ESSV) to activate A2 function. We show here for the first time that HMGA1a is involved in specific splice site regulation of HIV-1.

Future Trends in the Pharmacogenomics of Brain Disorders and Dementia: Influence of APOE and CYP2D6 Variants

About 80% of functional genes in the human genome are expressed in the brain and over 1,200 different genes have been associated with the pathogenesis of CNS disorders and dementia. Pharmacogenetic studies of psychotropic drug response have focused on determining the relationship between variations in specific candidate genes and the positive and adverse effects of drug treatment. Approximately, 18% of neuroleptics are substrates of CYP1A2 enzymes, 40% of CYP2D6, and 23% of CYP3A4; 24% of antidepressants are substrates of CYP1A2 enzymes, 5% of CYP2B6, 38% of CYP2C19, 85% of CYP2D6, and 38% of CYP3A4; 7% of benzodiazepines are substrates of CYP2C19 enzymes, 20% of CYP2D6, and 95% of CYP3A4. 10-20% of Western populations are defective in genes of the CYP superfamily; and the pharmacogenomic response of psychotropic drugs also depends on genetic variants associated with dementia. Prospective studies with anti-dementia drugs or with multifactorial strategies have revealed that the therapeutic response to conventional drugs in Alzheimer’s disease is genotype-specific. The disease-modifying effects (cognitive performance, biomarker modification) of therapeutic intervention are APOE-dependent, with APOE-4 carriers acting as the worst responders (APOE-3/3 > APOE-3/4 > APOE-4/4). APOE-CYP2D6 interactions also influence the therapeutic outcome in patients with dementia.