title: Biochemical analysis of the EJC reveals two new factors and a stable tetrameric protein core.
abstract: The multiprotein exon junction complex (EJC) is deposited on mRNAs upstream of exon-exon junctions as a consequence of pre-mRNA splicing. In mammalian cells, this complex serves as a key modulator of spliced mRNA metabolism. To date, neither the complete composition nor the exact assembly pathway of the EJC has been entirely elucidated. Using in vitro splicing and a two-step chromatography procedure, we have purified the EJC and analyzed its components by mass spectrometry. In addition to finding most of the known EJC factors, we identified two novel EJC components, Acinus and SAP18. Heterokaryon analysis revealed that SAP18 is a shuttling protein whereas Acinus is restricted to the nucleus. In MS2 tethering assays Acinus stimulated gene expression at the RNA level, while MLN51, another EJC factor, stimulated mRNA translational efficiency. Using tandem affinity purification (TAP) of proteins overexpressed in HeLa cells, we demonstrated that Acinus binds directly to another EJC component, RNPS1, while stable association of SAP18 to form the trimeric apoptosis and splicing associated protein (ASAP) complex requires both Acinus and RNPS1. Using the same methodology, we further identified what appears to be the minimal stable EJC core, a heterotetrameric complex consisting of eIF4AIII, Magoh, Y14, and MLN51.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas Ø
authors.initials: TØ
authors.lastname: Tange
authors.forename: Toshiharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Melissa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jurica
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D039601:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005091:Exons; D015870:Gene Expression; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008954:Models, Biological; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C121310:ACIN1 protein, human; C459802:CASC3 protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D056970:Co-Repressor Proteins; C491494:MAGOH protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C406243:RBM8A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C084538:RNPS1 protein, human; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; C498650:SAP18 protein, human; D039601:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A