Origin and evolution of neural microexons

ABSTRACT: The mechanisms by which entire programs of gene regulation emerged during evolution are poorly understood. Neuronal microexons represent the most conserved class of alternative splicing in vertebrates and are critical for proper brain development and function. Here, we discover neural microexon programs in non-vertebrate species and trace their origin to bilaterian ancestors through the emergence of a previously uncharacterized ‘enhancer of microexons' (eMIC) protein domain. The eMIC domain originated as an alternative, neural-enriched splice isoform of the pan-eukaryotic Srrm2/SRm300 splicing factor gene, and subsequently became fixed in the vertebrate and neuronal-specific splicing regulator Srrm4/nSR100 and its paralog Srrm3. Remarkably, the eMIC domain is necessary and sufficient for microexon splicing, and functions by interacting with the earliest components required for exon recognition. The emergence of a novel domain with restricted expression in the nervous system thus resulted in the evolution of splicing programs that contributed to qualitatively expand neuronal molecular complexity in bilaterians.

INSTRUMENT(S): LTQ Orbitrap Velos

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Permanent Cell Line Cell, Hela Cell

SUBMITTER: Antonio Torres Mendez  

LAB HEAD: Manuel Irimia Martinez

PROVIDER: PXD010034 | Pride | 2019-03-12

REPOSITORIES: Pride