RESUMEN
Here we report a Survival Motor Neuron 2 (SMN2) super minigene, SMN2Sup, encompassing its own promoter, all exons, their flanking intronic sequences and the entire 3'-untranslated region. We confirm that the pre-mRNA generated from SMN2Sup undergoes splicing to produce a translation-competent mRNA. We demonstrate that mRNA generated from SMN2Sup produces more SMN than an identical mRNA generated from a cDNA clone. We uncover that overexpression of SMN triggers skipping of exon 3 of SMN1/SMN2. We define the minimal promoter and regulatory elements associated with the initiation and elongation of transcription of SMN2. The shortened introns within SMN2Sup preserved the ability of camptothecin, a transcription elongation inhibitor, to induce skipping of exons 3 and 7 of SMN2. We show that intron 1-retained transcripts undergo nonsense-mediated decay. We demonstrate that splicing factor SRSF3 and DNA/RNA helicase DHX9 regulate splicing of multiple exons in the context of both SMN2Sup and endogenous SMN1/SMN2. Prevention of SMN2 exon 7 skipping has implications for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). We validate the utility of the super minigene in monitoring SMN levels upon splicing correction. Finally, we demonstrate how the super minigene could be employed to capture the cell type-specific effects of a pathogenic SMN1 mutation.
Asunto(s)
Exones , Intrones , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora , Transcripción Genética , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Intrones/genética , Humanos , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Empalme del ARN , Factores de Empalme Serina-Arginina/metabolismo , Factores de Empalme Serina-Arginina/genética , Degradación de ARNm Mediada por Codón sin Sentido , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , ARN Helicasas DEAD-box/genética , ARN Helicasas DEAD-box/metabolismo , Precursores del ARN/metabolismo , Precursores del ARN/genéticaRESUMEN
Designing an RNA-interacting molecule that displays high therapeutic efficacy while retaining specificity within a broad concentration range remains a challenging task. Risdiplam is an FDA-approved small molecule for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. Branaplam is another small molecule which has undergone clinical trials. The therapeutic merit of both compounds is based on their ability to restore body-wide inclusion of Survival Motor Neuron 2 (SMN2) exon 7 upon oral administration. Here we compare the transcriptome-wide off-target effects of these compounds in SMA patient cells. We captured concentration-dependent compound-specific changes, including aberrant expression of genes associated with DNA replication, cell cycle, RNA metabolism, cell signaling and metabolic pathways. Both compounds triggered massive perturbations of splicing events, inducing off-target exon inclusion, exon skipping, intron retention, intron removal and alternative splice site usage. Our results of minigenes expressed in HeLa cells provide mechanistic insights into how these molecules targeted towards a single gene produce different off-target effects. We show the advantages of combined treatments with low doses of risdiplam and branaplam. Our findings are instructive for devising better dosing regimens as well as for developing the next generation of small molecule therapeutics aimed at splicing modulation.
Asunto(s)
Atrofia Muscular Espinal , Empalme del ARN , Humanos , Células HeLa , Neuronas Motoras/metabolismo , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/tratamiento farmacológico , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/metabolismo , Empalme del ARN/efectos de los fármacos , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Fármacos Neuromusculares/administración & dosificación , Terapia Molecular DirigidaRESUMEN
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) perform diverse functions, including the regulation of transcription, translation, peptide synthesis, macromolecular sequestration and trafficking. Inverted Alu repeats capable of forming RNA:RNA duplexes that bring splice sites together for backsplicing are known to facilitate circRNA generation. However, higher limits of circRNAs produced by a single Alu-rich gene are currently not predictable due to limitations of amplification and analyses. Here, using a tailored approach, we report a surprising diversity of exon-containing circRNAs generated by the Alu-rich Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) genes that code for SMN, an essential multifunctional protein in humans. We show that expression of the vast repertoire of SMN circRNAs is universal. Several of the identified circRNAs harbor novel exons derived from both intronic and intergenic sequences. A comparison with mouse Smn circRNAs underscored a clear impact of primate-specific Alu elements on shaping the overall repertoire of human SMN circRNAs. We show the role of DHX9, an RNA helicase, in splicing regulation of several SMN exons that are preferentially incorporated into circRNAs. Our results suggest self- and cross-regulation of biogenesis of various SMN circRNAs. These findings bring a novel perspective towards a better understanding of SMN gene function.
Asunto(s)
Empalme Alternativo/fisiología , ARN/genética , Proteínas del Complejo SMN/genética , Región de Flanqueo 5' , Elementos Alu/genética , Células Cultivadas , Biología Computacional , Exones , Células HEK293 , Células HeLa , Humanos , ARN Circular , ARN Mensajero , Proteínas del Complejo SMN/fisiologíaRESUMEN
The Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein is essential for survival of all animal cells. SMN harbors a nucleic acid-binding domain and plays an important role in RNA metabolism. However, the RNA-binding property of SMN is poorly understood. Here we employ iterative in vitro selection and chemical structure probing to identify sequence and structural motif(s) critical for RNA-SMN interactions. Our results reveal that motifs that drive RNA-SMN interactions are diverse and suggest that tight RNA-SMN interaction requires presence of multiple contact sites on the RNA molecule. We performed UV crosslinking and immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (HITS-CLIP) to identify cellular RNA targets of SMN in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. Results of HITS-CLIP identified a wide variety of targets, including mRNAs coding for ribosome biogenesis and cytoskeleton dynamics. We show critical determinants of ANXA2 mRNA for a direct SMN interaction in vitro. Our data confirms the ability of SMN to discriminate among close RNA sequences, and represent the first validation of a direct interaction of SMN with a cellular RNA target. Our findings suggest direct RNA-SMN interaction as a novel mechanism to initiate the cascade of events leading to the execution of SMN-specific functions.
Asunto(s)
Motivos de Nucleótidos , Dominios Proteicos , ARN/química , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/química , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Sitios de Unión/genética , Unión Competitiva , Línea Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Neuronas/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , ARN/genética , ARN/metabolismo , Homología de Secuencia de Ácido Nucleico , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/química , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismoRESUMEN
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by deletions or mutations of the Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene coupled with predominant skipping of SMN2 exon 7. The only approved SMA treatment is an antisense oligonucleotide that targets the intronic splicing silencer N1 (ISS-N1), located downstream of the 5' splice site (5'ss) of exon 7. Here, we describe a novel approach to exon 7 splicing modulation through activation of a cryptic 5'ss (Cr1). We discovered the activation of Cr1 in transcripts derived from SMN1 that carries a pathogenic G-to-C mutation at the first position (G1C) of intron 7. We show that Cr1-activating engineered U1 snRNAs (eU1s) have the unique ability to reprogram pre-mRNA splicing and restore exon 7 inclusion in SMN1 carrying a broad spectrum of pathogenic mutations at both the 3'ss and 5'ss of the exon 7. Employing a splicing-coupled translation reporter, we demonstrate that mRNAs generated by an eU1-induced activation of Cr1 produce full-length SMN. Our findings underscore a wider role for U1 snRNP in splicing regulation and reveal a novel approach for the restoration of SMN exon 7 inclusion for a potential therapy of SMA.
Asunto(s)
Mutación , Sitios de Empalme de ARN , Secuencias Reguladoras de Ácido Ribonucleico , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Animales , Línea Celular Tumoral , Células Cultivadas , Exones , Ribonucleoproteína Heterogénea-Nuclear Grupo A-B/antagonistas & inhibidores , Humanos , Intrones , Ratones , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Empalme del ARN , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , ARN Nuclear Pequeño/metabolismo , Ribonucleoproteína Nuclear Pequeña U1/metabolismo , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/biosíntesisRESUMEN
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic disease of children, is caused by low levels of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Here, we employ A15/283, an antisense oligonucleotide targeting a deep intronic sequence/structure, to examine the impact of restoration of SMN in a mild SMA mouse model. We show gender-specific amelioration of tail necrosis upon subcutaneous administrations of A15/283 into SMA mice at postnatal days 1 and 3. We also demonstrate that a modest increase in SMN due to early administrations of A15/283 dramatically improves testicular development and spermatogenesis. Our results reveal near total correction of expression of several genes in adult testis upon temporary increase in SMN during early postnatal development. This is the first demonstration of in vivo efficacy of an antisense oligonucleotide targeting a deep intronic sequence/structure. This is also the first report of gender-specific amelioration of SMA pathology upon a modest peripheral increase of SMN.
Asunto(s)
Intrones , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Oligonucleótidos Antisentido , Fenotipo , Animales , Apoptosis/genética , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Femenino , Dosificación de Gen , Expresión Génica , Marcación de Gen , Masculino , Ratones , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/diagnóstico , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/metabolismo , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/terapia , Mutación , Necrosis/genética , Necrosis/patología , Oligonucleótidos Antisentido/administración & dosificación , Oligonucleótidos Antisentido/química , Factores Sexuales , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Cola (estructura animal)/patología , Testículo/metabolismoRESUMEN
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating neuromuscular disorder that stems from low levels of survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein. The processes that cause motor neurons and muscle cells to become dysfunctional are incompletely understood. We are interested in neuromuscular homeostasis and the stresses put upon that system by loss of SMN. We recently reported that α-COP, a member of the coatomer complex of coat protein I (COPI) vesicles, is an SMN-binding partner, implicating this protein complex in normal SMN function. To investigate the functional significance of the interaction between α-COP and SMN, we constructed an inducible NSC-34 cell culture system to model the consequences of SMN depletion and find that depletion of SMN protein results in shortened neurites. Heterologous expression of human SMN, and interestingly over-expression of α-COP, restores normal neurite length and morphology. Mutagenesis of the canonical COPI dilysine motifs in exon 2b results in failure to bind to α-COP and abrogates the ability of human SMN to restore neurite outgrowth in SMN-depleted motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells. We conclude that the interaction between SMN and α-COP serves an important function in the growth and maintenance of motor neuron processes and may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of SMA.
Asunto(s)
Proteína Coatómero/metabolismo , Dipéptidos/metabolismo , Exones , Modelos Biológicos , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/patología , Neuritas/fisiología , Dominios y Motivos de Interacción de Proteínas/fisiología , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/química , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Técnicas de Cultivo de Célula/métodos , Línea Celular , Proteína Coat de Complejo I/metabolismo , Dipéptidos/química , Dipéptidos/genética , Humanos , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Neuronas Motoras/metabolismo , Neuronas Motoras/patología , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/metabolismo , Mutación , Neuritas/patología , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genéticaRESUMEN
Here, we report a long-distance interaction (LDI) as a critical regulator of alternative splicing of Survival Motor Neuron 2 (SMN2) exon 7, skipping of which is linked to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic disease of children and infants. We show that this LDI is linked to a unique intra-intronic structure that we term internal stem through LDI-1 (ISTL1). We used site-specific mutations and Selective 2'-Hydroxyl Acylation analyzed by Primer Extension to confirm the formation and functional significance of ISTL1. We demonstrate that the inhibitory effect of ISTL1 is independent of hnRNP A1/A2B1 and PTB1 previously implicated in SMN2 exon 7 splicing. We show that an antisense oligonucleotide-mediated sequestration of the 3' strand of ISTL1 fully corrects SMN2 exon 7 splicing and restores high levels of SMN and Gemin2, a SMN-interacting protein, in SMA patient cells. Our results also reveal that the 3' strand of ISTL1 and upstream sequences constitute an inhibitory region that we term intronic splicing silencer N2 (ISS-N2). This is the first report to demonstrate a critical role of a structure-associated LDI in splicing regulation of an essential gene linked to a genetic disease. Our findings expand the repertoire of potential targets for an antisense oligonucleotide-mediated therapy of SMA.
Asunto(s)
Empalme Alternativo , Intrones , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Secuencias Reguladoras de Ácido Ribonucleico , Secuencia de Bases , Exones , Células HeLa , Ribonucleoproteína Nuclear Heterogénea A1 , Ribonucleoproteína Heterogénea-Nuclear Grupo A-B/metabolismo , Humanos , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/terapia , Conformación de Ácido Nucleico , Proteína de Unión al Tracto de Polipirimidina/metabolismo , ARN/química , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genéticaRESUMEN
Humans have two nearly identical copies of survival motor neuron gene: SMN1 and SMN2. Deletion or mutation of SMN1 combined with the inability of SMN2 to compensate for the loss of SMN1 results in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA affects 1 in ~6000 live births, a frequency much higher than in several genetic diseases. The major known defect of SMN2 is the predominant exon 7 skipping that leads to production of a truncated protein (SMNΔ7), which is unstable. Therefore, SMA has emerged as a model genetic disorder in which almost the entire disease population could be linked to the aberrant splicing of a single exon (i.e. SMN2 exon 7). Diverse treatment strategies aimed at improving the function of SMN2 have been envisioned. These strategies include, but are not limited to, manipulation of transcription, correction of aberrant splicing and stabilization of mRNA, SMN and SMNΔ7. This review summarizes up to date progress and promise of various in vivo studies reported for the treatment of SMA.
Asunto(s)
Atrofia Muscular Espinal/terapia , Animales , HumanosRESUMEN
Introduction: The U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) forms ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) such as U1 snRNP and U1-TAF15 snRNP. U1 snRNP is one of the most studied RNPs due to its critical role in pre-mRNA splicing in defining the 5' splice site (5'ss) of every exon through direct interactions with sequences at exon/intron junctions. Recent reports support the role of U1 snRNP in all steps of transcription, namely initiation, elongation, and termination. Functions of U1-TAF15 snRNP are less understood, though it associates with the transcription machinery and may modulate pre-mRNA splicing by interacting with the 5'ss and/or 5'ss-like sequences within the pre-mRNA. An anti-U1 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that sequesters the 5' end of U1 snRNA inhibits the functions of U1 snRNP, including transcription and splicing. However, it is not known if the inhibition of U1 snRNP influences post-transcriptional regulation of pre-mRNA splicing through deep intronic sequences. Methods: We examined the effect of an anti-U1 ASO that sequesters the 5' end of U1 snRNA on transcription and splicing of all internal exons of the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) genes, SMN1 and SMN2. Our study was enabled by the employment of a multi-exon-skipping detection assay (MESDA) that discriminates against prematurely terminated transcripts. We employed an SMN2 super minigene to determine if anti-U1 ASO differently affects splicing in the context of truncated introns. Results: We observed substantial skipping of multiple internal exons of SMN1 and SMN2 triggered by anti-U1 treatment. Suggesting a role for U1 snRNP in interacting with deep intronic sequences, early exons of the SMN2 super minigene with truncated introns were resistant to anti-U1 induced skipping. Consistently, overexpression of engineered U1 snRNAs targeting the 5'ss of early SMN1 and SMN2 exons did not prevent exon skipping caused by anti-U1 treatment. Discussion: Our results uncover a unique role of the U1 snRNA-associated RNPs in splicing regulation executed through deep intronic sequences. Findings are significant for developing novel therapies for SMA based on deep intronic targets.
RESUMEN
Here we report a novel finding of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) microwalk in which we examined the position-specific role of intronic residues downstream from the 5' splice site (5' ss) of SMN2 exon 7, skipping of which is associated with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a leading genetic cause of infant mortality. Our results revealed the inhibitory role of a cytosine residue at the 10th intronic position ((10)C), which is neither conserved nor associated with any known splicing motif. Significance of (10)C emerged from the splicing pattern of SMN2 exon 7 in presence of a 14-mer ASO (L14) that sequestered two adjacent hnRNP A1 motifs downstream from (10)C and yet promoted SMN2 exon 7 skipping. Another 14-mer ASO (F14) that sequestered both, (10)C and adjacent hnRNP A1 motifs, led to a strong stimulation of SMN2 exon 7 inclusion. The inhibitory role of (10)C was found to be tightly linked to its unpaired status and specific positioning immediately upstream of a RNA:RNA helix formed between the targeting ASO and its intronic target. Employing a heterologous context as well as changed contexts of SMN2 intron 7, we show that the inhibitory effect of unpaired (10)C is dependent upon a long-distance interaction involving downstream intronic sequences. Our report furnishes one of the rare examples in which an ASO-based approach could be applied to unravel the critical role of an intronic position that may not belong to a linear motif and yet play significant role through long-distance interactions.
Asunto(s)
Ribonucleoproteínas Nucleares Heterogéneas/genética , Precursores del ARN/genética , Empalme del ARN , ARN sin Sentido/genética , Emparejamiento Base , Secuencia de Bases , Evolución Biológica , Exones/genética , Genoma Humano , Humanos , Intrones/genética , Mutación , Oligonucleótidos Antisentido , Eliminación de Secuencia , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genéticaRESUMEN
Humans contain two nearly identical copies of Survival Motor Neuron genes, SMN1 and SMN2. Deletion or mutation of SMN1 causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), one of the leading genetic diseases associated with infant mortality. SMN2 is unable to compensate for the loss of SMN1 due to predominant exon 7 skipping, leading to the production of a truncated protein. Antisense oligonucleotide and small molecule-based strategies aimed at the restoration of SMN2 exon 7 inclusion are approved therapies of SMA. Many cis-elements and transacting factors have been implicated in regulation of SMN exon 7 splicing. Also, several structural elements, including those formed by a long-distance interaction, have been implicated in the modulation of SMN exon 7 splicing. Several of these structures have been confirmed by enzymatic and chemical structure-probing methods. Additional structures formed by inter-intronic interactions have been predicted by computational algorithms. SMN genes generate a vast repertoire of circular RNAs through inter-intronic secondary structures formed by inverted Alu repeats present in large number in SMN genes. Here, we review the structural context of the exonic and intronic cis-elements that promote or prevent exon 7 recognition. We discuss how structural rearrangements triggered by single nucleotide substitutions could bring drastic changes in SMN2 exon 7 splicing. We also propose potential mechanisms by which inter-intronic structures might impact the splicing outcomes.
RESUMEN
Humans have two nearly identical copies of the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) gene: SMN1 and SMN2. The two SMN genes code for identical proteins; however, SMN2 predominantly generates a shorter transcript due to skipping of exon 7, the last coding exon. Skipping of SMN2 exon 7 leads to production of a truncated SMN protein that is highly unstable. The inability of SMN2 to compensate for the loss of SMN1 results in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the second most prevalent genetic cause of infant mortality. Since SMN2 is almost universally present in SMA patients, correction of SMN2 exon 7 splicing holds the promise for cure. Consistently, SMN2 exon 7 splicing has emerged as one of the best studied splicing systems in humans. The vast amount of recent literature provides a clue that SMN2 exon 7 splicing is regulated by an intron definition mechanism, which does not require cross-exon communication as prerequisite for exon inclusion. Our conclusion is based on the prominent role of intronic cis-elements, some of them have emerged as the frontrunners among potential therapeutic targets of SMA. Further, the widely expressed T-cell-restricted intracellular antigen-1 (TIA1), a member of the Q-rich domain containing RNA-binding proteins, has recently been found to regulate SMN exon 7 splicing by binding to intron 7 sequences away from the 5' ss. These findings make a strong argument for an "intron definition model", according to which regulatory sequences within a downstream intron are capable of enforcing exon inclusion even in the absence of a defined upstream 3' ss of an alternatively spliced exon.
Asunto(s)
Empalme Alternativo , Intrones , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Exones , Humanos , Modelos Genéticos , Proteínas de Unión a Poli(A)/genética , Proteínas de Unión a Poli(A)/metabolismo , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/biosíntesis , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/biosíntesis , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/metabolismo , Antígeno Intracelular 1 de las Células TRESUMEN
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the major genetic disorders associated with infant mortality. More than 90% of cases of SMA result from deletions of or mutations in the Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. SMN2, a nearly identical copy of SMN1, does not compensate for the loss of SMN1 due to predominant skipping of exon 7. The spectrum of SMA is broad, ranging from prenatal death to infant mortality to survival into adulthood. All tissues, including brain, spinal cord, bone, skeletal muscle, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, spleen, ovary and testis, are directly and/or indirectly affected in SMA. Accumulating evidence on impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and defects in X chromosome-linked modifying factors, coupled with the sexual dimorphic nature of many tissues, point to sex-specific vulnerabilities in SMA. Here we review the role of sex in the pathogenesis of SMA.
Asunto(s)
Atrofia Muscular Espinal/patología , Animales , Femenino , Humanos , Infertilidad Masculina/etiología , Infertilidad Masculina/genética , Infertilidad Masculina/patología , Masculino , Mitocondrias/genética , Mitocondrias/patología , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/etiología , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Factores Sexuales , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Cromosoma X/genéticaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by low levels of the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein due to deletions of or mutations in the SMN1 gene. Humans carry another nearly identical gene, SMN2, which mostly produces a truncated and less stable protein SMNΔ7 due to predominant skipping of exon 7. Elevation of SMN upon correction of SMN2 exon 7 splicing and gene therapy have been proven to be the effective treatment strategies for SMA. AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes existing and potential SMA therapies that are based on RNA targeting.We also discuss the mechanistic basis of RNA-targeting molecules. EXPERT OPINION: The discovery of intronic splicing silencer N1 (ISS-N1) was the first major step towards developing the currently approved antisense-oligonucleotide (ASO)-directed therapy (SpinrazaTM) based on the correction of exon 7 splicing of the endogenous SMN2pre-mRNA. Recently, gene therapy (Zolgensma) has become the second approved treatment for SMA. Small compounds (currently in clinical trials) capable of restoring SMN2 exon 7 inclusion further expand the class of the RNA targeting molecules for SMA therapy. Endogenous RNA targets, such as long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, microRNAs and ribonucleoproteins, could be potentially exploited for developing additional SMA therapies.
Asunto(s)
Terapia Genética/métodos , Terapia Molecular Dirigida , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/terapia , Animales , Exones , Humanos , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Mutación , ARN/genética , Empalme del ARN/genética , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genética , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genéticaRESUMEN
Human Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) genes code for SMN, an essential multifunctional protein. Complete loss of SMN is embryonic lethal, while low levels of SMN lead to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a major genetic disease of children and infants. Reduced levels of SMN are associated with the abnormal development of heart, lung, muscle, gastro-intestinal system and testis. The SMN loci have been shown to generate a vast repertoire of transcripts, including linear, back- and trans-spliced RNAs as well as antisense long noncoding RNAs. However, functions of the majority of these transcripts remain unknown. Here we review the nature of RNAs generated from the SMN loci and discuss their potential functions in cellular metabolism.
Asunto(s)
Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/metabolismo , Proteínas del Complejo SMN/genética , Proteínas del Complejo SMN/metabolismo , Elementos Alu , Animales , Humanos , MicroARNs , ARN Circular , ARN Largo no Codificante/metabolismoRESUMEN
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is 1 of the leading causes of infant mortality. SMA is mostly caused by low levels of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein due to deletion of or mutation in the SMN1 gene. Its nearly identical copy, SMN2, fails to compensate for the loss of SMN1 due to predominant skipping of exon 7. Correction of SMN2 exon 7 splicing by an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), nusinersen (Spinraza™), that targets the intronic splicing silencer N1 (ISS-N1) became the first approved therapy for SMA. Restoration of SMN levels using gene therapy was the next. Very recently, an orally deliverable small molecule, risdiplam (Evrysdi™), became the third approved therapy for SMA. Here we discuss how these therapies are positioned to meet the needs of the broad phenotypic spectrum of SMA patients.
RESUMEN
Humans have two nearly identical copies of the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) gene, SMN1 and SMN2. In spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), SMN2 is not able to compensate for the loss of SMN1 due to exclusion of exon 7. Here we describe a novel inhibitory element located immediately downstream of the 5' splice site in intron 7. We call this element intronic splicing silencer N1 (ISS-N1). Deletion of ISS-N1 promoted exon 7 inclusion in mRNAs derived from the SMN2 minigene. Underlining the dominant role of ISS-N1 in exon 7 skipping, abrogation of a number of positive cis elements was tolerated when ISS-N1 was deleted. Confirming the silencer function of ISS-N1, an antisense oligonucleotide against ISS-N1 restored exon 7 inclusion in mRNAs derived from the SMN2 minigene or from endogenous SMN2. Consistently, this oligonucleotide increased the levels of SMN protein in SMA patient-derived cells that carry only the SMN2 gene. Our findings underscore for the first time the profound impact of an evolutionarily nonconserved intronic element on SMN2 exon 7 splicing. Considering that oligonucleotides annealing to intronic sequences do not interfere with exon-junction complex formation or mRNA transport and translation, ISS-N1 provides a very specific and efficient therapeutic target for antisense oligonucleotide-mediated correction of SMN2 splicing in SMA.
Asunto(s)
Proteína de Unión a Elemento de Respuesta al AMP Cíclico/genética , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/genética , Empalme del ARN , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/genética , Elementos Silenciadores Transcripcionales , Empalme Alternativo , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Línea Celular , Proteína de Unión a Elemento de Respuesta al AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , ADN/genética , Exones , Humanos , Intrones , Ratones , Modelos Genéticos , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Atrofia Muscular Espinal/metabolismo , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/metabolismo , Oligorribonucleótidos Antisentido/genética , Oligorribonucleótidos Antisentido/farmacología , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/metabolismo , Proteínas del Complejo SMN , Eliminación de Secuencia , Homología de Secuencia de Ácido Nucleico , Proteína 1 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona MotoraRESUMEN
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. Most SMA cases are associated with the low levels of SMN owing to deletion of Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1). SMN2, a nearly identical copy of SMN1, fails to compensate for the loss of SMN1 due to predominant skipping of exon 7. Hence, correction of aberrant splicing of SMN2 exon 7 holds the potential for cure of SMA. Here we report an 8-mer antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to have a profound stimulatory response on correction of aberrant splicing of SMN2 exon 7 by binding to a unique GC-rich sequence located within intron 7 of SMN2. We confirm that the splicing-switching ability of this short ASO comes with a high degree of specificity and reduced off-target effect compared to larger ASOs targeting the same sequence. We further demonstrate that a single low nanomolar dose of this 8-mer ASO substantially increases the levels of SMN and a host of factors including Gemin 2, Gemin 8, ZPR1, hnRNP Q and Tra2-beta1 known to be down-regulated in SMA. Our findings underscore the advantages and unmatched potential of very short ASOs in splicing modulation in vivo.
Asunto(s)
Atrofia Muscular Espinal/genética , Oligonucleótidos Antisentido/genética , Emparejamiento Base , Secuencia de Bases , Línea Celular , Regulación hacia Abajo , Exones , Humanos , Intrones , Oligonucleótidos Antisentido/química , Empalme del ARN , Proteína 2 para la Supervivencia de la Neurona Motora/genéticaRESUMEN
Humans have two nearly identical copies of the survival motor neuron (SMN ) gene, SMN1 and SMN2. Homozygous loss of SMN1 causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMN2 is unable to prevent the disease due to skipping of exon 7. Using a systematic approach of in vivo selection, we have previously demonstrated that a weak 5' splice site (ss) serves as the major cause of skipping of SMN2 exon 7. Here we show the inhibitory impact of RNA structure on the weak 5' ss of exon 7. We call this structure terminal stem-loop 2 (TSL2). Confirming the inhibitory nature of TSL2, point mutations that destabilize TSL2 promote exon 7 inclusion in SMN2, whereas strengthening of TSL2 promotes exon 7 skipping even in SMN1. We also demonstrate that TSL2 negatively affects the recruitment of U1snRNP at the 5' ss of exon 7. Using enzymatic structure probing, we confirm that the sequence at the junction of exon 7/intron 7 folds into TSL2 and show that mutations in TSL2 cause predicted structural changes in this region. Our findings reveal for the first time the critical role of RNA structure in regulation of alternative splicing of human SMN.