Chen, C. D., Kobayashi, R., Helfman, D. M. (March 1999) Binding of hnRNP H to an exonic splicing silencer is involved in the regulation of alternative splicing of the rat beta-tropomyosin gene. Genes and Development, 13 (5). pp. 593-606. ISSN 0890-9369 (Print)
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Abstract
In the rat beta-tropomyosin (beta-TM) gene, exons 6 and 7 are spliced alternatively in a mutually exclusive manner. Exon 6 is included in mRNA encoding nonmuscle TM-1, whereas exon 7 is used in mRNA encoding skeletal muscle beta-TM. Previously, we demonstrated that a six nucleotide mutation at the 5' end of exon 7, designated as ex-1, activated exon 7 splicing in nonmuscle cells. In this study, we show that the activating effect of this mutation is not the result of creating an exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) or disrupting a putative secondary structure. The sequence in exon 7 acts as a bona fide exonic splicing silencer (ESS), which is bound specifically by a trans-acting factor. Isolation and peptide sequencing reveal that this factor is hnRNP H, a member of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) family. Binding of hnRNP H correlates with the ESS activity. Furthermore, addition of antibodies that specifically recognizes hnRNP H to the splicing reactions or partial depletion of hnRNP H from nuclear extract activates exon 7 splicing in vitro and this effect can be reversed by addition of purified recombinant hnRNP H. These results indicate that hnRNP H participates in exclusion of exon 7 in nonmuscle cells. The involvement of hnRNP H in the activity of an ESS may represent a prototype for the regulation of tissue- and developmental-specific alternative splicing.
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