Nxf1 natural variant E610G is a semi-dominant suppressor of IAP-induced RNA processing defects

PLoS Genet. 2015 Apr 2;11(4):e1005123. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005123. eCollection 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Endogenous retroviruses and retrotransposons contribute functional genetic variation in animal genomes. In mice, Intracisternal A Particles (IAPs) are a frequent source of both new mutations and polymorphism across laboratory strains. Intronic IAPs can induce alternative RNA processing choices, including alternative splicing. We previously showed IAP I∆1 subfamily insertional mutations are suppressed by a wild-derived allele of the major mRNA export factor, Nxf1. Here we show that a wider diversity of IAP insertions present in the mouse reference sequence induce insertion-dependent alternative processing that is suppressed by Nxf1CAST alleles. These insertions typically show more modest gene expression changes than de novo mutations, suggesting selection or attenuation. Genome-wide splicing-sensitive microarrays and gene-focused assays confirm specificity of Nxf1 genetic modifier activity for IAP insertion alleles. Strikingly, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing demonstrates that a single amino acid substitution in Nxf1, E610G, is sufficient to recreate a quantitative genetic modifier in a co-isogenic background.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Genes, Intracisternal A-Particle*
  • Genes, Suppressor*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA Splicing*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*

Substances

  • NXF1 protein, mouse
  • Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger