Cancer-Associated Mutations Mapped on High-Resolution Structures of the U2AF2 RNA Recognition Motifs

Biochemistry. 2017 Sep 12;56(36):4757-4761. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00551. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

Abstract

Acquired point mutations of pre-mRNA splicing factors recur among cancers, leukemias, and related neoplasms. Several studies have established that somatic mutations of a U2AF1 subunit, which normally recognizes 3' splice site junctions, recur among myelodysplastic syndromes. The U2AF2 splicing factor recognizes polypyrimidine signals that precede most 3' splice sites as a heterodimer with U2AF1. In contrast with those of the well-studied U2AF1 subunit, descriptions of cancer-relevant U2AF2 mutations and their structural relationships are lacking. Here, we survey databases of cancer-associated mutations and identify recurring missense mutations in the U2AF2 gene. We determine ultra-high-resolution structures of the U2AF2 RNA recognition motifs (RRM1 and RRM2) at 1.1 Å resolution and map the structural locations of the mutated U2AF2 residues. Comparison with prior, lower-resolution structures of the tandem U2AF2 RRMs in the RNA-bound and apo states reveals clusters of cancer-associated mutations at the U2AF2 RRM-RNA or apo-RRM1-RRM2 interfaces. Although the role of U2AF2 mutations in malignant transformation remains uncertain, our results show that cancer-associated mutations correlate with functionally important surfaces of the U2AF2 splicing factor.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallization
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Subunits
  • RNA / metabolism*
  • Splicing Factor U2AF / chemistry*
  • Splicing Factor U2AF / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Subunits
  • Splicing Factor U2AF
  • U2AF2 protein, human
  • RNA