Project description:Transcription of the mammalian genome is pervasive, but productive transcription outside of protein-coding genes is limited by unknown mechanisms. In particular, although RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) initiates divergently from most active gene promoters, productive elongation occurs primarily in the sense-coding direction. Here we show in mouse embryonic stem cells that asymmetric sequence determinants flanking gene transcription start sites control promoter directionality by regulating promoter-proximal cleavage and polyadenylation. We find that upstream antisense RNAs are cleaved and polyadenylated at poly(A) sites (PASs) shortly after initiation. De novo motif analysis shows PAS signals and U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) recognition sites to be the most depleted and enriched sequences, respectively, in the sense direction relative to the upstream antisense direction. These U1 snRNP sites and PAS sites are progressively gained and lost, respectively, at the 5' end of coding genes during vertebrate evolution. Functional disruption of U1 snRNP activity results in a dramatic increase in promoter-proximal cleavage events in the sense direction with slight increases in the antisense direction. These data suggest that a U1-PAS axis characterized by low U1 snRNP recognition and a high density of PASs in the upstream antisense region reinforces promoter directionality by promoting early termination in upstream antisense regions, whereas proximal sense PAS signals are suppressed by U1 snRNP. We propose that the U1-PAS axis limits pervasive transcription throughout the genome. 3' end sequencing of poly (A) + RNAs in mouse ES cells with and without U1 snRNP inhibition using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (AMO). Each with two biological replicates.
Project description:Pervasive transcription in the mammalian genome produces thousands of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and promoter- or enhancer-associated unstable transcripts. They preferentially locate to chromatin, at which some regulate chromatin structure, transcription and RNA processing. While several RNA sequences responsible for nuclear localization have been identified, such as repeats in the lncRNA Xist and Alu-like elements for long RNAs, how lncRNAs as a class are enriched on chromatin remains elusive. To screen for cis-elements that contribute to RNA-chromatin localization, we developed a high-throughput method named RNA elements for subcellular localization by sequencing (REL-seq), and discovered a U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP)-recognition motif being critical for chromatin localization of reporter RNAs. Across the genome, chromatin-bound lncRNAs, which are enriched with 5’ splice sites and depleted of 3’ splice sites, exhibit high levels of U1 snRNA binding compared to cytoplasm-localized protein-coding mRNAs. Acute depletion of U1 snRNA, or U1 snRNP protein component SNRNP70, drastically reduces the chromatin association of hundreds of lncRNAs and unstable transcripts without altering the overall transcription rate in cells. In addition, rapid degradation of SNRNP70 reduces the localization of both nascent and polyadenylated lncRNA transcripts to chromatin, and disrupts the nuclear-speckles and genome-wide localization of Malat1, a highly conserved and abundant lncRNA. Moreover, chromatin-bound U1 snRNP interacts with transcriptionally engaged RNA polymerase (Pol) II. Together, these results demonstrate that U1 snRNP acts widely to tether and mobilize lncRNAs to chromatin in a Pol II transcription-dependent manner. Our findings uncover a novel role of U1 snRNP beyond pre-mRNA processing and provide molecular insights into how lncRNAs are recruited to Pol II-transcribed genes and have a propensity for chromatin-associated functions.
Project description:Full-length transcription in the majority of human genes depends on U1 snRNP (U1) to co-transcriptionally suppress transcription-terminating premature 3’-end cleavage and polyadenylation (PCPA) from cryptic polyadenylation signals (PASs) in introns. However, the mechanism of this U1 activity, termed telescripting, is unknown. Here, we captured a complex, comprising U1 and CPA factors (U1–CPAFs), that binds intronic PASs and suppresses PCPA. U1–CPAFs are distinct from U1-spliceosomal complexes; they include CPA’s three main subunits, CFIm, CPSF, and CstF, lack essential splicing factors, and associate with transcription elongation and mRNA export complexes. Telescripting requires U1:pre-mRNA base-pairing, which can be disrupted by U1 antisense oligonucleotide (U1 AMO), triggering PCPA. U1 AMO remodels U1–CPAFs, revealing changes, including recruitment of CPA-stimulating factors, that explain U1–CPAFs’ switch from repressive to activated states. Our findings outline U1 telescripting mechanism and demonstrate U1’s unique role as central-regulator of pre-mRNA processing and transcription.
Project description:Splicing is initiated by a productive interaction of pre-mRNA and the U1 snRNP, which dictates the formation a short RNA duplex between the 5’ splice site of a pre-mRNA and the 5’ end of the U1 snRNA. A long-standing puzzle has been why the AU dincucleotide at the 5’-end of the U1 snRNA shows strict conservation, despite the absence of an apparent role in duplex formation. To explore this conundrum, we varied this AU dinucleotide into to all possible permutations and analyzed the resulting molecular, biochemical, and physiological consequences. This led to the findings that the AU dinucleotide governs the precision of transcription start site, the methylation status of the U1 snRNA 5’-cap, appropriate maturation of a functional U1 snRNP, and its subsequent utilization in the splicing pathway. Our data also provide an insight as to why the identity of the AU dinucleotide is strongly favored during evolution.
Project description:The DNA damage response (DDR) involves coordinated control of gene expression and DNA repair. Using deep sequencing we found widespread changes of alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) site usage upon UV-treatment in mammalian cells. APA regulation in the 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR) is substantial, leading to both shortening and lengthening of 3’UTRs. Interestingly, a strong activation of intronic APA sites is detected, resulting in widespread expression of truncated transcripts. Intronic APA events are biased to the 5’ end of genes and affect gene groups with important functions in DDR. Moreover, intronic APA site activation during DDR correlates with a decrease in U1 snRNA levels, and this is reversed by U1 snRNA overexpression. Importantly, U1 snRNA overexpression decreases UV-induced apoptosis. Together, these studies describe a significant gene regulatory scheme in DDR where U1 snRNP impacts gene expression via APA.
Project description:Transcription of the mammalian genome is pervasive, but productive transcription outside of protein-coding genes is limited by unknown mechanisms. In particular, although RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) initiates divergently from most active gene promoters, productive elongation occurs primarily in the sense-coding direction. Here we show in mouse embryonic stem cells that asymmetric sequence determinants flanking gene transcription start sites control promoter directionality by regulating promoter-proximal cleavage and polyadenylation. We find that upstream antisense RNAs are cleaved and polyadenylated at poly(A) sites (PASs) shortly after initiation. De novo motif analysis shows PAS signals and U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) recognition sites to be the most depleted and enriched sequences, respectively, in the sense direction relative to the upstream antisense direction. These U1 snRNP sites and PAS sites are progressively gained and lost, respectively, at the 5' end of coding genes during vertebrate evolution. Functional disruption of U1 snRNP activity results in a dramatic increase in promoter-proximal cleavage events in the sense direction with slight increases in the antisense direction. These data suggest that a U1-PAS axis characterized by low U1 snRNP recognition and a high density of PASs in the upstream antisense region reinforces promoter directionality by promoting early termination in upstream antisense regions, whereas proximal sense PAS signals are suppressed by U1 snRNP. We propose that the U1-PAS axis limits pervasive transcription throughout the genome.
Project description:This project looks into how U1 snRNP inhibition causes a loss of telescripting through premature cleavage and polyadenylation based on the size and function of human genes.
Project description:Synaptic activity induces well-known changes in enhancer-promoter driven gene expression but also induces changes in splicing and polyadenylation that are understudied. Here, we investigate the mechanism of expression for alternative polyadenylation isoform Homer1a, an immediate early gene essential to synaptic plasticity. We report that neuronal activation, in neuronal cultures and in adult mouse brain, depletes the splice factor U1 snRNP from Homer1 pre-mRNA and that this causes shifted utilization of a cryptic polyadenylation signal within intron 5 resulting in Homer1a expression. Because U1 snRNP is a ubiquitous splice factor, we tested the generality of activity-driven U1 snRNP depletion as a mechanism for gene expression using RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing. Analysis reveals that neuronal activity changes U1 snRNP binding to ~2000 transcripts and for a subset of transcripts, a reduction in U1 snRNP binding was accompanied by utilization of a cryptic intronic polyadenylation site. This subset is enriched for transcripts encoding synaptic proteins involved in excitability control. Genes demonstrating activity-dependent reduced U1 snRNP binding often encode a binding motif for Sam68, a neuronal alternative polyadenylation factor. Findings reveal that activity-driven changes in intron utilization for transcript termination serves an important role in synaptic plasticity.
Project description:Individual-nucleotide resolution UV-crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (iCLIP) combined with high-throughput sequencing was performed to generate genome-wide binding maps of two U1-snRNP proteins: U1C and U1-70K in Trypanosoma brucei. 3 (2) biological replicates of U1C (U1-70K) -specific co-immunoprecipitated RNA after UV-crosslinking
Project description:The goal of the microarray experiment was to do a head-to-head comparison of the U1 Adaptor technology with siRNA in terms of specificity at the genome-wide level. U1 Adaptors represent a novel gene silencing method that employs a mechanism of action distinct from antisense and RNA interference (RNAi). The U1 Adaptor is a bifunctional oligonucleotide having a âTarget Domainâ that is complementary to a site in the target gene's terminal exon and a âU1 Domainâ that binds to the U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) component of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) splicing factor. Tethering of U1 snRNP to the target pre-mRNA inhibits 3' end processing (i.e., polyA tail addition) leading to degradation of that RNA species within the nucleus thereby reducing mRNA levels. We demonstrate that U1 Adaptors can specifically inhibit both reporter and endogenous genes. Further, targeting the same gene either with multiple U1 Adaptors or with U1 Adaptors and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), strongly enhances gene silencing, the latter as predicted from their distinct mechanisms of action. Such combinatorial targeting requires lower amounts of oligonucleotides to achieve potent silencing. Experiment Overall Design: For each sample total RNA was prepared from 3 independent transfections and then were pooled and analyzed by QPCR and also by microarray.