# Uncovering Mechanisms of 5' Splice Site Fidelity

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ · 2020 · $394,732

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing is essential in higher eukaryotes in order to produce
functional messenger RNAs to code for proteins. The splicing reaction is carried out by a large
macromolecular machine called the spliceosome. The spliceosome assembles onto pre-mRNA substrates
through a complex binding, rearrangement and release of 5 small nuclear RNAs and over 100 associated
proteins. The exact roles of many of the spliceosome-associated factors are poorly understood. Our lab
uses the microscopic worm C. elegans as a model to explore pre-mRNA splicing through integrated genetic,
genomic and biochemical approaches. We have established sensitives genetic screens to identify factors
important for the accurate assembly of the spliceosome at the 5' splice site. Our data suggest the
hypothesis that key spliceosomal components have an important role in securing the accurate transfer of
the 5' splice site from its initial recognition by U1snRNP to its loading into the active site of the spliceosome.
The dominant suppressor mutations that we uncovered fall into two classes; 1) those that allow the
spliceosome to remain in an open conformation, which allows the 5' splice site position to slide between two
regions 23nt apart during loading into the active site and 2) those that promote the usage of an intron that
begins with an unusual UU dinucleotide. We will explore the following questions:
1. How do protein factors control the accurate selection of 5' splice sites during spliceosome assembly?
We hypothesize that components of the assembled spliceosome control the final determination of 5' splice
site selection. We will study how alleles of PRPF8, SNRNP27 and SNRNP200 (Brr2) affect precise 5' splice
site usage in worms. Because of the prevalence of human genetic disease alleles with mutations identical to
the ones explored in our genetic screen, we also plan to take our studies into human cells to determine if
the alleles identified in worms can be targets for translational research into splicing regulation.
2. How do KIN17 and PRCC maintain 5'ss fidelity?
We have found a phenomenon in which two 5'ss separated by a single nucleotide are both used even in the
presence of a wild type spliceosome. We have identified a class of dominant suppressors that promote
usage of introns that begin with UU instead of the canonical GU dinucleotide. These alleles are in the worm
homologs of human KIN17 and PRCC; little is known about a role for either protein in splicing other than
that they transiently interact with mammalian Bact spliceosomes. We now have functional splicing assays for
these factors to exploit in characterizing their function in maintaining splice site fidelity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9858772
- **Project number:** 1R01GM135221-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ
- **Principal Investigator:** ALAN M ZAHLER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $394,732
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-01-15 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9858772

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9858772, Uncovering Mechanisms of 5' Splice Site Fidelity (1R01GM135221-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9858772. Licensed CC0.

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