Article abstract
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 15, 1040 - 1048 (2008)
Published online: 14 September 2008 | doi:10.1038/nsmb.1485
Phosphorylation switches the general splicing repressor SRp38 to a sequence-specific activator
Ying Feng1, Mo Chen1 & James L Manley1
Abstract
SRp38 is an atypical SR protein that functions as a general splicing repressor when dephosphorylated. We now show that phosphorylated SRp38 functions as a sequence-specific splicing activator. Unlike characterized splicing activators, SRp38 functions in the absence of other SR proteins but requires a cofactor for activity. SRp38 was able to induce formation of splicing complex A in the absence of the cofactor, but this factor was necessary for progression to complexes B and C. Mechanistically, SRp38 strengthens the ability of the U1 and U2 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins to stably recognize the pre-mRNA. Extending these findings, analysis of alternative splicing of pre-mRNA encoding the glutamate receptor B revealed that SRp38 alters its splicing pattern in a sequence-specific manner. Together, our data demonstrate that SRp38, in addition to its role as a splicing repressor, can function as an unusual sequence-specific splicing activator.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, 1212 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, New York 10027, USA.
Correspondence to: James L Manley1 e-mail: jlm2@columbia.edu
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