Identification and Characterisation of RNA Targets of the RNA Binding Proteins Tra2α and Tra2β Andrew Best
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Identification and characterisation of RNA targets of the RNA binding proteins Tra2α and Tra2β Andrew Best Institute of Genetic Medicine A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2014 Declaration Declaration I, Andrew Best, declare that no portion of the work compiled in this thesis has been submitted in support of another degree or qualification at this or any other University or Institute of Learning. This thesis includes nothing which is the work of others, nor the outcomes of work done in collaboration, except where otherwise stated. ……………………………….. Andrew Best I Acknowledgements Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to extend my thanks to a fantastic supervisor - Professor David Elliott – for his guidance, patience and support. David has been a kind and enthusiastic mentor. I would also like to thank my second supervisor – Dr Alison Tyson-Capper – for her constant encouragement and support throughout this project. I would like to thank all members of the Elliott lab, both past and present. I would particularly like to thank Mrs Caroline Dalgliesh (Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University) for her valuable advice and for the countless ‘quick questions’ she has kindly answered over the years. Thanks to Dr Sushma Grellscheid (School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University) for sharing her valuable expertise when I first started working in the lab. I would also like to thank Dr Jennifer Munkley, Dr Elaine Hong and Dr Ingrid Ehrmann for their help and advice. You have all made my PhD an enjoyable and rewarding experience. I extend a special thank you to my good friends and fellow PhD students Ms Marina Danilenko, Mr Morten Ritso and Dr Mahsa Kheirollahi-Kouhestani. I wish you all success and happiness in the future. I am indebted to many collaborators for their time and generosity throughout this project. Without them this work would not have been possible. Thank you to the following collaborators: Dr Julian Venables (Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University), Dr Katherine James (School of Computing Science, Newcastle University), Professor Tomaz Curk (Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana), Mr Yaobo Xu (Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University), Dr Mauro Santibanez-Koref (Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University), Mr Rafiq Hussain (Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University), Professor Bernard Keavney (Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester), Dr Roscoe Klinck (Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada), Professor Benoit Chabot (Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada), Dr Ian Cowell (Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University), Mr Ka Cheong Lee (Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University), Professor Caroline Austin (Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University), Dr Irina Neganova (Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University) and Mr Ian Dimmick (Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University). I also gratefully acknowledge the Breast Cancer Campaign for funding this project. Thanks also to my external examiner – Dr Emanuele Buratti – for an enjoyable and constructive discussion. I would like to extend a big thank you to all my family and friends. Thank you to my mum – Janet – for the unconditional love, support and kindness you have shown to me throughout my life. Thank you to a wonderful sister – Helen – for your friendship and support. A special thanks to my girlfriend – Rebecca – for her continual love, care and support. I am truly grateful to you all. This thesis is dedicated to the memory of my father – John – who I love and miss dearly. I will always remember your kindness and support. Thank you for always believing in me. This thesis is for you. II Table of Contents Table of Contents Declaration……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………I Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………………………………..II Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………………………………..III List of Figures and Tables……………………………………………………………………………………………..X List of Abbreviations ………………………………………………………………………………………………….XV Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….XVIII Chapter 1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………1 1.1 Pre-mRNA splicing…………………………………………………………………1 1.1.1 One gene, multiple mRNAs……………………………………………………….1 1.1.2 General pre-mRNA processing…………………………………………………..2 1.1.3 Splicing and splice site recognition by the spliceosome……………3 1.1.4 The splicing reaction.…………………………………………………………………5 1.1.5 The minor spliceosome…………………………………….………………………7 1.1.6 Alternative splicing……………………………………………………….............8 1.1.7 Regulation of alternative splicing………………………………………………9 1.1.7.1 Cis-regulatory sequences…………………………………………………………10 1.1.7.1.1 Splice site strength…………………………………………………………………10 1.1.7.1.2 Splicing enhancer and silencer sequences………………………………10 1.1.7.2 Trans-regulatory proteins………………………………………………………11 1.1.8 The SR-protein family………………………………………………………………12 1.1.9 Regulation of SR-protein activity……………………………………………12 1.1.10 Models of splicing regulation by SR-proteins…………………………13 1.1.11 Other factors that influence splicing………………………………………15 1.2 The SR-like splicing factors Tra2α and Tra2β………………………...15 1.2.1 Tra2 proteins…………………………………………………………………………15 1.2.2 Human Tra2α and Tra2β proteins……………………………………………16 1.2.3 The TRA2B gene generates multiple mRNA isoforms………………17 1.2.4 Tra2β protein structure and sequence specificity……………………18 1.2.5 Phosphorylation of Tra2β………………………………………………………20 1.2.6 Well characterised RNA targets of vertebrate Tra2 proteins……21 1.2.7 The physiological functions of Tra2β………………………..……………22 1.3 Alternative splicing in cancer………………………………………..........23 1.3.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………23 1.3.2 Mutations within cis-elements………………………………………………24 1.3.3 Trans-acting factors in cancer…………………………………………………25 1.3.4 Tra2β expression in cancer………………………………………………………26 1.3.5 Breast cancer and the MDA-MB-231 cell line…………………………27 III Table of Contents 1.3.6 Alternatively spliced isoforms as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer……………………………........................28 1.4 Methodologies for dissecting alternative splicing……..............30 1.4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………30 1.4.2 Model systems using minigenes……………………………………………30 1.4.3 Alternative splicing microarrays………………………………………………31 1.4.4 SELEX………………………………………………………………………………………31 1.4.5 UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP)……………………31 1.4.6 RNA-seq…………………………………………………………………………………33 1.5 Research aims and objectives………………………………………………34 Chapter 2 Functional dissection of splicing regulation by the RNA-binding protein Tra2β………………………………………………………………………………………………35 2.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………35 2.2 Aims……………………………………………………………………………………36 2.3 Materials and Methods…………………………………………………………37 2.3.1 Cell culture………………………………………………………………………………37 2.3.1.1 Cell lines…………………………………………………………………………………37 2.3.1.2 HEK-293…………………………………………………………………………………37 2.3.1.3 MCF-7……………………………………………………………………………………37 2.3.1.4 MDA-MB-231…………………………………………………………………………37 2.3.1.5 Routine cell passage………………………………………………………………37 2.3.1.6 Cell line maintenance………………………………………………………………38 2.3.1.7 Cryopreservation of cells…………………………………………………………38 2.3.1.8 Cell counting……………………………………………………………………………38 2.3.2 Minigene splicing assays…………………………………………………………39 2.3.2.1 Minigene transfections……………………………………………………………39 2.3.2.2 RNA extraction ………………………………………………………………………39 2.3.2.4 One-step RT-PCR……………………………………………………………………40 2.3.2.5 Capillary gel electrophoresis (QIAxcel)……………………………………40 2.3.2.6 Calculation of percentage splicing inclusion (PSI)……………………41 2.3.3 Western Immunoblotting………………………………..………………………41 2.3.4 Mutation of Tra2β binding sites………………………………………………41 2.3.4.1 Site-directed mutagenesis of the Nasp-T minigenes………………41 2.3.4.2 Molecular cloning……………………………………………………………………45 2.3.4.3 Sequencing………………………………………………………………………………46 2.3.5 In silico prediction of Tra2β targets from a panel of breast cancer associated alternative splicing events……………………………………46 2.3.6 Molecular cloning of the breast cancer associated exons into the pXJ41 minigene………………………………………………………………………46 2.3.7 siRNA transfection…………………………………………………………………47 2.3.8 Splicing analysis of endogenous targets…………………………………48 IV Table of Contents 2.4 Results…………………………………………………………………………………50 2.4.1 Investigating splicing regulation of Tra2β-bound exons identified from the Tra2β HITS-CLIP experiment……………………………………50 2.4.1.1 Investigating splicing regulation of candidate cassette exons using a minigene assay……………………………………………………………50 2.4.1.2 Tra2β activates splicing inclusion of a poison exon from Tra2a………………………………………………………………………………………52 2.4.1.3 Investigating Tra2β mediated splicing regulation of the Nasp-T exon using mutagenesis…………………………………………………………52 2.4.1.4 Tra2β promotes splicing inclusion of the Nasp-T exon through multiple redundant binding sites……………………………………………54 2.4.2 Investigating the functional effect of removing the RS1 domain or RRM of Tra2β in splicing regulation……………………………………60 2.4.2.1 Direct RNA-binding was required for splicing activation of most Tra2β responsive minigenes……………………………………………………60 2.4.2.2 The Tra2β construct lacking the RS1 domain functioned as a splicing repressor……………………………………………………………………62 2.4.3 Investigating regulation of alternative 3' splice sites identified from the Tra2β HITS-CLIP experiment……………………………………62 2.4.4 Investigating splicing regulation of breast cancer-associated