Role of the modular domains of SR proteins in subnuclear localization and alternative splicing specificity

Cáceres, J. F., Misteli, T., Screaton, G. R., Spector, D. L., Krainer, A. R. (July 1997) Role of the modular domains of SR proteins in subnuclear localization and alternative splicing specificity. Journal of Cell Biology, 138 (2). pp. 225-38. ISSN 0021-9525

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URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9230067
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.138.2.225

Abstract

SR proteins are required for constitutive pre-mRNA splicing and also regulate alternative splice site selection in a concentration-dependent manner. They have a modular structure that consists of one or two RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs) and a COOH-terminal arginine/serine-rich domain (RS domain). We have analyzed the role of the individual domains of these closely related proteins in cellular distribution, subnuclear localization, and regulation of alternative splicing in vivo. We observed striking differences in the localization signals present in several human SR proteins. In contrast to earlier studies of RS domains in the Drosophila suppressor-of-white-apricot (SWAP) and Transformer (Tra) alternative splicing factors, we found that the RS domain of SF2/ASF is neither necessary nor sufficient for targeting to the nuclear speckles. Although this RS domain is a nuclear localization signal, subnuclear targeting to the speckles requires at least two of the three constituent domains of SF2/ASF, which contain additive and redundant signals. In contrast, in two SR proteins that have a single RRM (SC35 and SRp20), the RS domain is both necessary and sufficient as a targeting signal to the speckles. We also show that RRM2 of SF2/ASF plays an important role in alternative splicing specificity: deletion of this domain results in a protein that, although active in alternative splicing, has altered specificity in 5' splice site selection. These results demonstrate the modularity of SR proteins and the importance of individual domains for their cellular localization and alternative splicing function in vivo.

Item Type: Paper
Uncontrolled Keywords: Alternative Splicing genetics Cell Nucleus chemistry Cytoplasm chemistry Hela Cells Humans Mutation Nuclear Proteins analysis genetics RNA Splicing genetics RNA Messenger metabolism RNA Binding Proteins genetics Recombinant Fusion Proteins
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > SR proteins
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > splicing factor
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Krainer lab
CSHL labs > Spector lab
Depositing User: Brian Soldo
Date: 28 July 1997
Date Deposited: 04 Apr 2012 19:29
Last Modified: 19 Mar 2013 19:47
PMCID: PMC2138183
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/25648

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