Mutation of a U2 snRNA gene causes global disruption of alternative splicing and neurodegeneration.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-20-2012
Keywords
Alternative Splicing, Animals, Ataxia, Base Sequence, Cerebellum, Gene Expression Profiling, Mice, Molecular Sequence Data, Mutagenesis, Mutation, Neurodegenerative Diseases, RNA, Small Nuclear, Sequence Alignment
JAX Source
Cell 2012; 148(1-2):296-308.
Abstract
Although uridine-rich small nuclear RNAs (U-snRNAs) are essential for pre-mRNA splicing, little is known regarding their function in the regulation of alternative splicing or of the biological consequences of their dysfunction in mammals. Here, we demonstrate that mutation of Rnu2-8, one of the mouse multicopy U2 snRNA genes, causes ataxia and neurodegeneration. Coincident with the observed pathology, the level of mutant U2 RNAs was highest in the cerebellum and increased after granule neuron maturation. Furthermore, neuron loss was strongly dependent on the dosage of mutant and wild-type snRNA genes. Comprehensive transcriptome analysis identified a group of alternative splicing events, including the splicing of small introns, which were disrupted in the mutant cerebellum. Our results suggest that the expression of mammalian U2 snRNA genes, previously presumed to be ubiquitous, is spatially and temporally regulated, and dysfunction of a single U2 snRNA causes neuron degeneration through distortion of pre-mRNA splicing.
Recommended Citation
Jia Y,
Mu J,
Ackerman SL.
Mutation of a U2 snRNA gene causes global disruption of alternative splicing and neurodegeneration. Cell 2012; 148(1-2):296-308.