The U2AF35-related protein Urp contacts the 3' splice site to promote U12-type intron splicing and the second step of U2-type intron splicing

• Published in: Genes & development Vol. 24; no. 21; pp. 2389 - 2394
• Main Authors: Shen, Haihong, Zheng, Xuexiu, Luecke, Stephan, Green, Michael R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 01-11-2010
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; HeLa Cells; Humans; Immunoblotting; Introns - genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Phylogeny; Research Communication; Ribonucleoproteins - genetics; Ribonucleoproteins - metabolism; RNA Interference; RNA Splice Sites - genetics; RNA Splicing; RNA, Small Nuclear - genetics; Spliceosomes - metabolism; Splicing Factor U2AF
• ISSN: 0890-9369; 1549-5477
• DOI: 10.1101/gad.1974810

The U2AF35-related protein Urp has been implicated previously in splicing of the major class of U2-type introns. Here we show that Urp is also required for splicing of the minor class of U12-type introns. Urp is recruited in an ATP-dependent fashion to the U12-type intron 3' splice site, where it promotes formation of spliceosomal complexes. Remarkably, Urp also contacts the 3' splice site of a U2-type intron, but in this case is specifically required for the second step of splicing. Thus, through recognition of a common splicing element, Urp facilitates distinct steps of U2- and U12-type intron splicing.