Protein Prp22 is a DEAH box RNA helicase, which plays two distinct roles in pre-mRNA splicing: it participates in second transesterification step (ATP independent function) and it releases mature mRNA from the spliceosome (ATP dependent function). Prp45p, yeast ortholog of the human transcription co-regulator SNW/SKIP, is an essential splicing factor, it is included in spliceosome throughout the splicing reaction. Mutant prp45(1-169) genetically interacts with some alleles of NTC complex and second step splicing factors, one of them is also gene PRP22. Here we present, that mutants prp22(-158T) and prp22(-327A), which are synthetically lethal with prp45(1-169), express lower amount of Prp22p due to the mutation in upstream regulation region. Mutants prp22(-158T), prp22(300PPI) and prp22(-327A) affect splicing of pre-mRNA with mutation in 5'ss with respect to sequence of the second exon. N-terminal mutants prp22(∆301) and prp22(∆350) are synthetically lethal with prp45(1-169). Synthetic lethality is possibly caused by lower efficiency of Prp22 recruitment to the spliceosomes, which is no more viable for cells.

Pre-mRNA splicing is a vital process of gene expression important for all eukaryotic organisms. For the proper function of this very complex and dynamic event the presence of few specialized RNA and many proteins that hold a variety of tasks is necessary, not only inside the splicing complex itself, but also beyond this complex. The Prp45 is one of the proteins involved in pre-mRNA splicing in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Its human homologue, SNW1/SKIP, is involved in splicing but also in other crucial cell processes. The Prp45 protein was reliably reported only to participate in the second transesterification reaction of splicing. But there are also data suggesting its possible involvement in the first transesterification reaction. This work provides further evidences linking protein Prp45 with the first splicing reaction, obtained by the research of cells carrying the mutant allele prp45(1-169). Cells carrying this allele show dropped splicing and accumulation of pre-mRNAs. This thesis therefore also investigated the possible influence of Prp45 protein on the RNA export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. But no connection between this protein and RNA transport was discovered. Keywords pre-mRNA splicing; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Prp45; Mer1; Mud2; Prp22; Rrp6; AMA1; SNW1/SKIP

I investigated two aspects of in vivo splicing that are poorly understood: spliceosome disassembly and recycling, and proofreading. To this end, I used the auxin-inducible degron (AID) to individually deplete several splicing factors in budding yeast and then I measured the effect on co-transcriptional spliceosome assembly through chromatin immunoprecipitation. In addition, using RNA next-generation sequencing, I measured the frequency of splicing errors following depletion or mutation of the fidelity factor, Prp22. I show that formation of the pre-spliceosome (the first stage of spliceosome assembly) is rapidly inhibited by global defects in late stages of spliceosome assembly. I demonstrate that this is due to the accumulation of arrested spliceosomes that sequester the splicing machinery and, as a result, causes a recycling defect. This suggests that spliceosomes that lack essential splicing factors are not always properly disassembled and recycled in vivo, and warns about potential systematic secondary effects when perturbing single components of the spliceosome. Secondly, I describe the development of a new version of the AID system for budding yeast, called the B-estradiol AID. To the best of my knowledge, an AID system for budding yeast that is fast-acting, tightly-controlled and gratuitous, was lacking until now. Lastly, I show that absence of Prp22 protein, which was previously proposed to play a role in splicing fidelity, correlates with more mistakes in 3’ss selection of many endogenous intron-containing transcripts in vivo. This provides indirect evidence to suggest that Prp22-dependent splicing proofreading is physiologically important. The data from this analysis will be useful in ongoing studies to try to identify common features that could improve our understanding of the mechanism of Prp22’s function in splicing proofreading.

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In eukaryotes, the spliceosome is a macromolecular ribonucleoprotein machine that excises introns from pre-mRNAs through two sequential transesterification reactions. The chemistry and fidelity of pre-mRNA splicing are dependent upon a series of spliceosomal rearrangements, which are mediated by trans-acting splicing factors. One key class of these factors is the DEAH-box ATPase subfamily of proteins, whose members couple ATP hydrolysis to promote RNP structural rearrangements within the spliceosome. This is typified by Prp22, which promotes release of the spliced mRNA from the spliceosome and ensures fidelity of the second step of splicing. This role is well documented through classical biochemical and yeast genetics methods. Yet very little is known regarding the comings and goings of Prp22 relative to the spliceosome. My thesis research investigated the dynamics of Prp22 during splicing by using single-molecule fluorescence methods that allowed direct observation of these events. To do this, I helped construct a toolkit that combined yeast genetics, chemical biology and Colocalization Single Molecule Spectroscopy (CoSMoS) with in vitro splicing assays. Specifically, my thesis research consisted of CoSMoS splicing experiments in which fluorescently labeled pre-mRNA, spliceosome components and Prp22 were directly visualized and analyzed. Using these methods, I found that Prp22’s interactions with the spliceosome are highly dynamic and reversible. By simultaneously monitoring Prp22 and individual spliceosome subcomplexes, I was able to frame these Prp22 binding events in context relative to specific steps in spliceosome assembly and splicing. These experiments provide insight into how Prp22 promotes mRNA release from the spliceosome and maintains splicing fidelity.

No description available.

It is well known that chromatin posttranslational state, transcription and splicing influence each other. Nevertheless, the details of this coupling are not fully understood. In S. cerevisiae, it is possible to induce conditions, in which splicing is uncoupled from transcription. Such situation occurred in cells expressing a mutated splicing factor Prp45, whose human homolog has been proved to participate in transcription regulation and also in splicing reactions. Based on previously indicated interactions in high throughput two-hybrid screens, we have been looking for physical links between Prp45 and proteins involved in chromatin posttranslational modifications. Finding of such a link would provide insight into the relationships of gene expression processes. Using coimmunoprecipitation and affinity purification, we were unable to detect physical interactions between Prp45 and our candidate chromatin regulators. Alternative approaches are discussed. Using the precipitation techniques, we mapped the interaction of Prp46 with truncated variants of Prp45. This observation contributes to our knowledge of protein-protein interactions within the spliceosome.