The Drosophila sex determination gene snf encodes a nuclear protein with sequence and functional similarity to the mammalian U1A snRNP protein.
Alternative splicing controls the expression of many genes, including the Drosophila sex determination gene Sex-lethal. Previous studies have suggested that snf plays a role in regulating Sex-lethal splicing. Here, we demonstrate that snf is an integral component of the machinery required for splice site recognition. We have cloned snf and found that it has sequence homology to the mammalian U1A and U2B" snRNP proteins. Moreover, we establish that snf encodes a Drosophila protein shown previously to have functional similarity to U1A. Finally, with the isolation and analysis of a null mutation, we demonstrate that snf is an essential gene. These studies provide the first demonstration, in a multicellular organism, that mutations in a U1 snRNP protein alter splicing in vivo.
Flickinger
T W
TW
Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4955.
Salz
H K
HK
D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens; D001483:Base Sequence; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000235:genetics*; D005804:Genes, Lethal / Q000235:genetics; D015698:Genomic Library; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017412:Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017413:Ribonucleoprotein, U2 Small Nuclear; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
D001324:Autoantigens; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D017412:Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear; D017413:Ribonucleoprotein, U2 Small Nuclear; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; C075339:U1A protein; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins; C089969:snf protein, Drosophila