Nova Regulation of Alternative Splicing in the CNS

Author

B Kate Dredge

Date of Award

2002

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

RU Laboratory

Darnell Robert Laboratory

Abstract

Nova-1, an autoantigen in paraneoplastic opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia (POMA), a disorder associated with gynecologic cancer and CNS motor dysfunction, is a neuronspecific nuclear RNA binding protein. The work presented here confirms that Nova-1 acts as a regulator of alternative splicing in vivo. In addition to the known target Nova-dependent splicing regulation, exon 3A of glycine receptor a2 subunit (GlyRa2), two new targets are identified, which are the alternative exon, E9 in the inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor subunit, GABAARy2, and the alternatively spliced exon H in Nova-l's own message. Nova acts to enhance alternative exon inclusion in GlyRcc2 and GABAARy2 mRNAs and to repress alternative exon usage in its own message, thus acting as a dual function splicing regulator. Sequence elements necessary and sufficient for Nova-dependent splicing regulation of these two new targets were elucidated, and model is presented whereby Nova differentially regulates exon inclusion in a manner dependent on the location of the Nova binding site within the pre-mRNA. Also, Nova proteins localize to distinct subnuclear foci, but fail to co-localize with a number known proteins that occupy sub-nuclear structural domains. Unlike nuclear speckles, which contain a number of other splicing factors, Nova foci are disrupted by treatment the cells with actinomycin-D, consistent with the hypothesis that the formation andmaintenance of Nova foci is an active process that is transcription dependent. Finally,differential gene expression screens were undertaken, leading to the identification number of additional potential targets of Nova regulation.

Comments

A thesis presented to the faculty of Rockefeller University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Recommended Citation

Dredge, B Kate, "Nova Regulation of Alternative Splicing in the CNS" (2002). Student Theses and Dissertations. 333.
https://digitalcommons.rockefeller.edu/student_theses_and_dissertations/333