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A syn – anti conformational difference allows SRSF2 to recognize guanines and cytosines equally well
Author(s) -
Daubner Gerrit M,
Cléry Antoine,
Jayne Sandrine,
Stevenin James,
Allain Frédéric HT
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/emboj.2011.367
Subject(s) - biology , rna splicing , rna , intron , rna binding protein , exon , nucleotide , genetics , rna recognition motif , binding site , computational biology , gene
SRSF2 (SC35) is a key player in the regulation of alternative splicing events and binds degenerated RNA sequences with similar affinity in nanomolar range. We have determined the solution structure of the SRSF2 RRM bound to the 5′‐U CC AGU‐3′ and 5′‐U GG AGU‐3′ RNA, both identified as SRSF2 binding sites in the HIV‐1 tat exon 2. RNA recognition is achieved through a novel sandwich‐like structure with both termini forming a positively charged cavity to accommodate the four central nucleotides. To bind both RNA sequences equally well, SRSF2 forms a nearly identical network of intermolecular interactions by simply flipping the bases of the two consecutive C or G nucleotides into either anti or syn conformation. We validate this unusual mode of RNA recognition functionally by in‐vitro and in‐vivo splicing assays and propose a 5′‐SSNG‐3′ (S=C/G) high‐affinity binding consensus sequence for SRSF2. In conclusion, in addition to describe for the first time the RNA recognition mode of SRSF2, we provide the precise consensus sequence to identify new putative binding sites for this splicing factor.