Open AccessAn Intronic Splicing Enhancer Binds U1 snRNPs To Enhance Splicing and Select 5′ Splice Sites
Author(s) -
Andrew J. McCullough,
Susan M. Berget
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular and cellular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.14
H-Index - 327
eISSN - 1067-8824
pISSN - 0270-7306
DOI - 10.1128/mcb.20.24.9225-9235.2000
Subject(s) - snrnp , biology , rna splicing , intron , splice , splice site mutation , exon , enhancer , genetics , small nuclear rna , exonic splicing enhancer , rna , ribonucleoprotein , gene , non coding rna , transcription factor
Intronic G triplets are frequently located adjacent to 5′ splice sites in vertebrate pre-mRNAs and have been correlated with splicing efficiency and specificity via a mechanism that activates upstream 5′ splice sites in exons containing duplicated sites (26). Using an intron dependent upon G triplets for maximal activity and 5′ splice site specificity, we determined that these elements bind U1 snRNPs via base pairing with U1 RNA. This interaction is novel in that it uses nucleotides 8 to 10 of U1 RNA and is independent of nucleotides 1 to 7. In vivo functionality of base pairing was documented by restoring activity and specificity to mutated G triplets through compensating U1 RNA mutations. We suggest that the G-rich region near vertebrate 5′ splice sites promotes accurate splice site recognition by recruiting the U1 snRNP.