Non-invasive and high-throughput interrogation of exon-specific isoform expression

Nat Cell Biol. 2021 Jun;23(6):652-663. doi: 10.1038/s41556-021-00678-x. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Abstract

Expression of exon-specific isoforms from alternatively spliced mRNA is a fundamental mechanism that substantially expands the proteome of a cell. However, conventional methods to assess alternative splicing are either consumptive and work-intensive or do not quantify isoform expression longitudinally at the protein level. Here, we therefore developed an exon-specific isoform expression reporter system (EXSISERS), which non-invasively reports the translation of exon-containing isoforms of endogenous genes by scarlessly excising reporter proteins from the nascent polypeptide chain through highly efficient, intein-mediated protein splicing. We applied EXSISERS to quantify the inclusion of the disease-associated exon 10 in microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and screened Cas13-based RNA-targeting effectors for isoform specificity. We also coupled cell survival to the inclusion of exon 18b of FOXP1, which is involved in maintaining pluripotency of embryonic stem cells, and confirmed that MBNL1 is a dominant factor for exon 18b exclusion. EXSISERS enables non-disruptive and multimodal monitoring of exon-specific isoform expression with high sensitivity and cellular resolution, and empowers high-throughput screening of exon-specific therapeutic interventions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing*
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Exons
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays*
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Proteome
  • Proteomics*
  • RNA Stability*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • tau Proteins / genetics
  • tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • FOXP1 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • MAPT protein, human
  • MBNL1 protein, human
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Proteome
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • tau Proteins