HNRNPH1 regulates the neuroprotective cold-shock protein RBM3 expression through poison exon exclusion.

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Published version
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Authors
Pavlou, Sofia 
Makarchuk, Stanislaw  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5484-7141
Abstract

Enhanced expression of the cold-shock protein RNA binding motif 3 (RBM3) is highly neuroprotective both in vitro and in vivo. Whilst upstream signalling pathways leading to RBM3 expression have been described, the precise molecular mechanism of RBM3 cold induction remains elusive. To identify temperature-dependent modulators of RBM3, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen using RBM3-reporter human iPSC-derived neurons. We found that RBM3 mRNA and protein levels are robustly regulated by several splicing factors, with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (HNRNPH1) being the strongest positive regulator. Splicing analysis revealed that moderate hypothermia significantly represses the inclusion of a poison exon, which, when retained, targets the mRNA for nonsense-mediated decay. Importantly, we show that HNRNPH1 mediates this cold-dependent exon skipping via its thermosensitive interaction with a G-rich motif within the poison exon. Our study provides novel mechanistic insights into the regulation of RBM3 and provides further targets for neuroprotective therapeutic strategies.

Description

Funder: Alzheimer's Research UK (ARUK)


Funder: Alzheimer's Society; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000320


Funder: UKRI | Medical Research Council (MRC); doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000265

Keywords
CRISPR screen, RBM3, alternative splicing, cold-shock protein, poison exon, Humans, Poisons, Cold Shock Proteins and Peptides, Cold Temperature, RNA, Messenger, RNA-Binding Proteins
Journal Title
EMBO J
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0261-4189
1460-2075
Volume Title
Publisher
EMBO
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (215943/Z/19/Z)
UK Dementia Research Institute (DRICam17/18)
An Open Targets grant [OTAR2054], the UK Dementia Research Institute, which receives its funding from UK DRI Ltd, funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.