Mutations in tau gene exon 10 associated with FTDP-17 alter the activity of an exonic splicing enhancer to interact with Tra2 beta.
Mutations in the human tau gene leading to aberrant splicing have been identified in FTDP-17, an autosomal dominant hereditary neurodegenerative disorder. Molecular mechanisms by which such mutations cause tau aberrant splicing were not understood. We characterized two mutations in exon 10 of the tau gene, N279K and Del280K. Our results revealed an exonic splicing enhancer element located in exon 10. The activity of this AG-rich splicing enhancer was altered by N279K and Del280K mutations. This exonic enhancer element interacts with human Tra2 beta protein. The interaction between Tra2 beta and the exonic splicing enhancer correlates with the activity of this enhancer element in stimulating splicing. Biochemical studies including in vitro splicing and RNA interference experiments in transfected cells support a role for Tra2 beta protein in regulating alternative splicing of human tau gene. Our results implicate the human tau gene as a target gene for the alternative splicing regulator Tra2 beta, suggesting that Tra2 beta may play a role in aberrant tau exon 10 alternative splicing and in the pathogenesis of tauopathies.
Jiang
Zhihong
Z
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Tang
Hao
H
Havlioglu
Necat
N
Zhang
Xiaochun
X
Stamm
Stefan
S
Yan
Riqiang
R
Wu
Jane Y
JY
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D019921:Biotinylation; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017412:Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D000068103:Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
C054369:MAPT protein, human; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012322:RNA Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D017412:Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear; C097083:TRA2B protein, human; D016875:tau Proteins; D000068103:Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors