RNA structure replaces the need for U2AF65 in splicing
- Chien-Ling Lin1,
- Allison J Taggart1,
- Kuan Huat Lim1,
- Luciana Ferraris2,
- Kamil J Cygan1,
- Robbert Creton1,
- Yen-Tsung Huang1 and
- William G Fairbrother1,3
- ↵* Corresponding author; email: william_fairbrother{at}brown.edu
Abstract
RNA secondary structure plays an integral role in catalytic, ribosomal, small nuclear, micro, and transfer RNAs. Discovering a prevalent role for secondary structure in pre-mRNAs has proven more elusive. By utilizing a variety of computational and biochemical approaches, we present evidence for a class of nuclear intron that relies upon secondary structure for correct splicing. These introns are defined by simple repeat expansions of complimentary AC and GT dimers that co-occur at opposite boundaries of an intron to form a bridging structure that enforces correct splice site pairing. Remarkably, this class of intron does not require U2AF65, a core component of the spliceosome, for its processing. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that this mechanism was present in the ancestral vertebrate lineage prior to the divergence of tetrapods from teleosts. While largely lost from land dwelling vertebrates, this class of introns is found in 10% of all zebrafish genes
- Received July 5, 2014.
- Accepted November 10, 2015.
- Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
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