A Yeast-Based High-Throughput Screening Platform for the Discovery of Novel pre-mRNA Splicing Modulators

ACS Chem Biol. 2026 Feb 20;21(2):326-338. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.5c00867. Epub 2026 Jan 12.

Abstract

Pre-mRNA splicing is a core process in eukaryotic gene expression, and splicing dysregulation has been linked to various diseases. However, very few small molecules have been discovered that can modulate spliced mRNA formation or inhibit the splicing machinery itself. This study presents a novel high-throughput screening (HTS) platform for identifying compounds that modulate splicing. Our platform comprises a two-tiered screening approach: A primary screen measuring growth inhibition in sensitized Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) strains and a secondary screen that relies on production of a fluorescent protein as a readout for splicing inhibition. Using this approach, we identified 4 small molecules that cause accumulation of unspliced pre-mRNA in vivo in yeast. In addition, cancer cells expressing a myelodysplastic syndrome-associated splicing factor mutation (SRSF2P95H) are more sensitive to one of these compounds than those expressing the wild-type version of the protein. Transcriptome analyses showed that this compound causes widespread changes in gene expression in sensitive SRSF2P95H-expressing cells. Our results demonstrate the utility of using a yeast-based HTS to identify compounds capable of changing pre-mRNA splicing outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Discovery* / methods
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays* / methods
  • Humans
  • RNA Precursors* / genetics
  • RNA Precursors* / metabolism
  • RNA Splicing* / drug effects
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / drug effects
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae* / metabolism
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors / genetics
  • Small Molecule Libraries* / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries* / pharmacology

Substances

  • RNA Precursors
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors

Associated data

  • BioProject/PRJNA1271094