Characterization of a disease-associated mutation affecting a putative splicing regulatory element in intron 6b of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene

J Biol Chem. 2009 Oct 30;284(44):30024-31. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.032623. Epub 2009 Sep 15.

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common recessive disorder caused by >1600 mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. About 13% of CFTR mutations are classified as "splicing mutations," but for almost 40% of these, their role in affecting the pre-mRNA splicing of the gene is not yet defined. In this work, we describe a new splicing mutation detected in three unrelated Italian CF patients. By DNA analyses and mRNA studies, we identified the c.1002-1110_1113delTAAG mutation localized in intron 6b of the CFTR gene. At the mRNA level, this mutation creates an aberrant inclusion of a sequence of 101 nucleotides between exons 6b and 7. This sequence corresponds to a portion of intron 6b and resembles a cryptic exon because it is characterized by an upstream ag and a downstream gt sequence, which are most probably recognized as 5'- and 3'-splice sites by the spliceosome. Through functional analysis of this splicing defect, we show that this mutation abolishes the interaction of the splicing regulatory protein heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 with an intronic splicing regulatory element and creates a new recognition motif for the SRp75 splicing factor, causing activation of the cryptic exon. Our results show that the c.1002-1110_1113delTAAG mutation creates a new intronic splicing regulatory element in intron 6b of the CFTR gene exclusively recognized by SRp75.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Introns / genetics*
  • Mutation*
  • RNA Splice Sites
  • RNA Splicing*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid*
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors

Substances

  • RNA Splice Sites
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • SRSF4 protein, human
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors