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Role of purine-rich exonic splicing enhancers in nuclear retention of pre-mRNAs

Role of purine-rich exonic splicing enhancers in nuclear retention of pre-mRNAs

Authors :
Taniguchi, Ichiro
Masuyama, Kaoru
Ohno, Mutsuhito
Source :
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States. August 21, 2007, Vol. 104 Issue 34, p13684, 6 p.
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

Intron-containing pre-mRNAs are normally retained in the nucleus until they are spliced to produce mature mRNAs that are exported to the cytoplasm. Although the detailed mechanism is not well understood, the formation of splicing-related complexes on prem-RNAs is thought to be responsible for the nuclear retention. Therefore, pre-mRNAs containing suboptimal splice sites should tend to leak out to the cytoplasm. Such pre-mRNAs often contain purine-rich exonic splicing enhancers (ESEs) that stimulate splicing of the adjacent intron. Here, we show that ESEs perse possess an activity to retain RNAs in the nucleus through a saturable nuclear retention factor. Cross-competition experiments revealed that intron-containing pre-mRNAs (without ESEs) used the same saturable nuclear retention factor as ESEs. Interestingly, although intronless mRNAs containing ESEs were also poorly exported, spliced mRNAs produced from ESE-containing pre-mRNAs were efficiently exported to the cytoplasm. Thus, the splicing reaction can reset the nuclear retention state caused by ESEs, allowing nuclear export of mature mRNAs. Our results reveal a novel aspect of ESE activity that should contribute to gene expression and RNA quality control. nuclear export | quality control

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00278424
Volume :
104
Issue :
34
Database :
Gale General OneFile
Journal :
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsgcl.168586825