Abstract
PAIRWISE recognition of splice sites as a result of a scanning mechanism is an attractive model to explain the coordination of vertebrate splicing1. Such a mechanism would predict a polarity-of-site recognition in the scanned unit, but no evidence for a polarity gradient across introns has been found2–4. We have suggested that the exon rather than the intron is the unit of recognition in vertebrates5 and that polyadenylation and splicing factors interact during recognition of 3′-terminal exons6–8. Interaction is reflected in maximal rates of in vitro polyadenylation. If scanning across the exon is operating during this interaction, then insertion of a 5′ splice site should depress polyadenylation. Here we report recognition in vitro and in vivo of a 5′ splice site situated within a 3′-terminal exon, and a concomitant depression of polyadenylation and ultraviolet crosslinking of a polyadenylation factor. Decreased crosslinking was only found when the 3′ and 5′ splice sites were within 300 nucleotides of each other. These results are consistent with an exon scanning mechanism for splice-site selection.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aebi, M., Hornig, H. & Weissmann, C. Trends Genet. 3, 102–107 (1987).
Kuhne, T. et al. EMBO J 2, 727–733 (1983).
Lang, K. M. & Spritz, R. A. Science 220, 1351–1355 (1983).
Reed, R. & Maniatis, T. Cell 46, 681–690 (1986).
Robberson, B. L., Cote, G. J. & Berget, S. M. Mol. cell. Biol. 10, 84–94 (1990).
Niwa, M., Rose, S. D. & Berget, S. M. Genes Dev. 4, 1552–1559 (1990).
Niwa, M. & Berget, S. M. Gene Exp. 1, 5–14 (1991).
Niwa, M. & Berget, S. M. Genes Dev. 5, 2086–2095 (1991).
Takagaki, Y. et al. Genes Dev. 4, 2112–2120 (1990).
Hawkins, J. D. Nucleic Acids Res. 16, 9893–9908 (1988).
Brunak, S. et al. J. molec. Biol. 220, 49–65 (1991).
Eperon, L. P., Estibeiro, J. P. & Eperon, I. C. Nature 324, 280–282 (1986).
Cunningham, S. A. et al. J. molec. Biol. 217, 265–281 (1991).
Lear, A. L. et al. J. molec. Biol. 211, 103–115 (1990).
Chabot, B. & Steitz, J. A. Molec. cell. Biol. 7, 281–293 (1987).
Newman, A. & Norman, C. Cell 65, 115–123 (1991).
Adami, G. & Nevins, J. R. EMBO J. 7, 2107–2116 (1988).
Levitt, N. et al. Genes Dev. 3, 1019–1025 (1989).
Brady, H. A. & Wold, W. S. M. Molec. cell. Biol. 8, 3291–3297 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Niwa, M., MacDonald, C. & Berget, S. Are vertebrate exons scanned during splice-site selection?. Nature 360, 277–280 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/360277a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/360277a0
This article is cited by
-
Interplay between Alternative Splicing and Alternative Polyadenylation Defines the Expression Outcome of the Plant Unique OXIDATIVE TOLERANT-6 Gene
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
Hypomorphic mutation in hnRNP U results in post-implantation lethality
Transgenic Research (2005)
-
Gene trap mutagenesis of hnRNP A2/B1: a cryptic 3' splice site in the neomycin resistance gene allows continued expression of the disrupted cellular gene
BMC Genomics (2003)
-
Expression and Characterization of Six Mutations in the Protoporphyrinogen oxidase gene among Finnish Variegate Porphyria Patients
Molecular Medicine (2001)
-
Splicing of precursors to mRNA in higher plants: mechanism, regulation and sub-nuclear organisation of the spliceosomal machinery
Plant Molecular Biology (1996)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
