The exon sequence TAGG can inhibit splicing.
The fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 gene contains a pair of alternative exons, K-SAM and BEK, which are spliced in a cell type specific manner. We have shown previously that a 10 nucleotide sequence within the K-SAM exon exerts a negative effect on K-SAM exon splicing independent of cell type. We demonstrate here that this sequence works autonomously, as it can repress splicing of a heterologous exon, the EIIIb alternative exon of the rat fibronectin gene. By introducing point mutations into the 10 nucleotide sequence, we have shown that the functional portion is limited to 4 nucleotides, TAGG, the dinucleotide AG of which is particularly important. This short sequence may participate in the control of splicing of exons carrying it, provided that they carry weak splice sites.
Del Gatto
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F
INSERM U211, Institut de Biologie, Nantes, France.
Gesnel
M C
MC
Breathnach
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003062:Codon; D005091:Exons; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D017354:Point Mutation; D012326:RNA Splicing; D051381:Rats; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*
D003062:Codon; D005353:Fibronectins; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor