Alternative splicing during chondrogenesis: modulation of fibronectin exon EIIIA splicing by SR proteins.
The alternative exon EIIIA of the fibronectin gene is included in mRNAs produced in undifferentiated mesenchymal cells but excluded from differentiated chondrocytes. As members of the SR protein family of splicing factors have been demonstrated to be involved in the alternative splicing of other mRNAs, the role of SR proteins in chondrogenesis-associated EIIIA splicing was investigated. SR proteins interacted with chick exon EIIIA sequences that are required for exon inclusion in a gel mobility shift assay. Addition of SR proteins to in vitro splicing reactions increased the rate and extent of exon EIIIA inclusion. Co-transfection studies employing cDNAs encoding individual SR proteins revealed that SRp20 decreased mRNA accumulation in HeLa cells, which make A+ mRNA, apparently by interfering with pre-mRNA splicing. Co-transfection studies also demonstrated that SRp40 increased exon EIIIA inclusion in chondrocytes, but not in HeLa cells, suggesting the importance of cellular context for SR protein activity. Immunoblot analysis did not reveal a relative depletion of SRp40 in chondrocytic cells. Possible mechanisms for regulation of EIIIA splicing in particular, and chondrogenesis associated splicing in general, are discussed.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadephia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
Bruce A
BA
Kuo
Tatiana M
TM
Uporova
Hongyan
H
Liang
Vickie D
VD
Bennett
Rocky S
RS
Tuan
Pamela A
PA
Norton
D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000068103:Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors; D014162:Transfection
D005353:Fibronectins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid; D000068103:Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors