PUBLICATION

7SK snRNP/P-TEFb couples transcription elongation with alternative splicing and is essential for vertebrate development

Authors
Barboric, M., Lenasi, T., Chen, H., Johansen, E.B., Guo, S., and Peterlin, B.M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-090511-6
Date
2009
Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America   106(19): 7798-7803 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Chen, Hui, Guo, Su
Keywords
LARP7, BCDIN3, MePCE, HEXIM1, SF2/ASF
MeSH Terms
  • Alternative Splicing*
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genetic Variation
  • Models, Genetic
  • Phosphorylation
  • Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B/metabolism*
  • RNA Polymerase II/metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger/metabolism
  • Ribonuclease, Pancreatic/metabolism
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear/chemistry*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Vertebrates/physiology
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
19416841 Full text @ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
Abstract
Eukaryotic gene expression is commonly controlled at the level of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) pausing subsequent to transcription initiation. Transcription elongation is stimulated by the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) kinase, which is suppressed within the 7SK small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (7SK snRNP). However, the biogenesis and functional significance of 7SK snRNP remain poorly understood. Here, we report that LARP7, BCDIN3, and the noncoding 7SK small nuclear RNA (7SK) are vital for the formation and stability of a cell stress-resistant core 7SK snRNP. Our functional studies demonstrate that 7SK snRNP is not only critical for controlling transcription elongation, but also for regulating alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs. Using a transient expression splicing assay, we find that 7SK snRNP disintegration promotes inclusion of an alternative exon via the increased occupancy of P-TEFb, Ser2-phosphorylated (Ser2-P) RNAPII, and the splicing factor SF2/ASF at the minigene. Importantly, knockdown of larp7 or bcdin3 orthologues in zebrafish embryos destabilizes 7SK and causes severe developmental defects and aberrant splicing of analyzed transcripts. These findings reveal a key role for P-TEFb in coupling transcription elongation with alternative splicing, and suggest that maintaining core 7SK snRNP is essential for vertebrate development.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping