Stress-responsive maturation of Clk1/4 pre-mRNAs promotes phosphorylation of SR splicing factor

J Cell Biol. 2011 Oct 3;195(1):27-40. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201107093. Epub 2011 Sep 26.

Abstract

It has been assumed that premessenger ribonucleic acids (RNAs; pre-mRNAs) are spliced cotranscriptionally in the process of gene expression. However, in this paper, we report that splicing of Clk1/4 mRNAs is suspended in tissues and cultured cells and that intermediate forms retaining specific introns are abundantly pooled in the nucleus. Administration of the Cdc2-like kinase-specific inhibitor TG003 increased the level of Clk1/4 mature mRNAs by promoting splicing of the intron-retaining RNAs. Under stress conditions, splicing of general pre-mRNAs was inhibited by dephosphorylation of SR splicing factors, but exposure to stresses, such as heat shock and osmotic stress, promoted the maturation of Clk1/4 mRNAs. Clk1/4 proteins translated after heat shock catalyzed rephosphorylation of SR proteins, especially SRSF4 and SRSF10. These findings suggest that Clk1/4 expression induced by stress-responsive splicing serves to maintain the phosphorylation state of SR proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Heat-Shock Response / drug effects
  • Heat-Shock Response / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Osmotic Pressure / drug effects
  • Osmotic Pressure / physiology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / physiology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / biosynthesis*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / biosynthesis*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • RNA Precursors / genetics
  • RNA Precursors / metabolism*
  • RNA Splicing / drug effects
  • RNA Splicing / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology

Substances

  • RNA Precursors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • TG 003
  • Thiazoles
  • Clk dual-specificity kinases
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases