title: U2AF binding selects for the high conservation of the C. elegans 3' splice site.
abstract: Caenorhabditis elegans is unusual among animals in having a highly conserved octamer sequence at the 3' splice site: UUUU CAG/R. This sequence can bind to the essential heterodimeric splicing factor U2AF, with U2AF65 contacting the U tract and U2AF35 contacting the splice site itself (AG/R). Here we demonstrate a strong correspondence between binding to U2AF of RNA oligonucleotides with variant octamer sequences and the frequency with which such variations occur in splice sites. C. elegans U2AF has a strong preference for the octamer sequence and exerts much of the pressure for 3' splice sites to have the precise UUUUCAG/R sequence. At two positions the splice site has a very strong preference for U even though alternative bases can also bind tightly to U2AF, suggesting that evolution can select against sequences that may have a relatively modest reduction in binding. Although pyrimidines are frequently present at the first base in the exon, U2AF has a very strong bias against them, arguing there is a mechanism to compensate for weakened U2AF binding at this position. Finally, the C in the consensus sequence must remain adjacent to the AG/R rather than to the stretch of U's, suggesting this C is recognized by U2AF35.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Mail Stop 8101, P.O. Box 6511, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hollins
authors.forename: Diego A R
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zorio
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacMorris
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011485:Protein Binding; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072668:Splicing Factor U2AF
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000072668:Splicing Factor U2AF