Name: engineering artificial factors to specifically manipulate alternative splicing in human cells
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Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells at JoVE.com

This work was supported by NIH grant R01-CA158283 and NSFC grant 31400726 to Z.W. Y.W. is funded by the Young Thousand Talents Program and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants 31471235 and 81422038). X.Y. is funded by the postdoctoral science foundation of China (2015M571612).

1. Construction of a PUF Scaffold with Customized RNA-binding Specificity by Overlapping PCR
<ol>
	<li>Design a series of PCR primers containing the PUF sequences that specifically recognize different RNA nucleotides in each position12 (see Table 1 for the primer sequences and see Figure 1A for the RNA:PUF recognition code). For each PUF repeat, design four different primers to recognize a different base on each position. 
	NOT...

<ol>
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B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Splicing+regulation:+from+a+parts+list+of+regulatory+elements+to+an+integrated+splicing+code.">Splicing regulation: from a parts list of regulatory elements to an integrated splicing code.</a> Rna. 14 (5), 802-813 (2008).</li><li>Matera, A. G., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+day+in+the+life+of+the+spliceosome.">A day in the life of the spliceosome.</a> Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 15 (2), 108-121 (2014).</li><li>Singh, R. K., Cooper, T. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pre-mRNA+splicing+in+disease+and+therapeutics.">Pre-mRNA splicing in disease and therapeutics.</a> Trends Mol Med. 18 (8), 472-482 (2012).</li><li>Wang, G. -. S., Cooper, T. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Splicing+in+disease:+disruption+of+the+splicing+code+and+the+decoding+machinery.">Splicing in disease: disruption of the splicing code and the decoding machinery.</a> Nat Rev Genet. 8 (10), 749-761 (2007).</li><li>Li, Y. I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RNA+splicing+is+a+primary+link+between+genetic+variation+and+disease.">RNA splicing is a primary link between genetic variation and disease.</a> Science. 352 (6285), 600-604 (2016).</li><li>Scotti, M. M., Swanson, M. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RNA+mis-splicing+in+disease.">RNA mis-splicing in disease.</a> Nat Rev Genet. 17 (1), 19-32 (2016).</li><li>Black, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanisms+of+alternative+pre-messenger+RNA+splicing.">Mechanisms of alternative pre-messenger RNA splicing.</a> Annu Rev Biochem. 72 (1), 291-336 (2003).</li><li>Graveley, B. R., Maniatis, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arginine/serine-rich+domains+of+SR+proteins+can+function+as+activators+of+pre-mRNA+splicing.">Arginine/serine-rich domains of SR proteins can function as activators of pre-mRNA splicing.</a> Mol cell. 1 (5), 765-771 (1998).</li><li>Del Gatto-Konczak, F., Olive, M., Gesnel, M. -. C., Breathnach, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=hnRNP+A1+recruited+to+an+exon+in+vivo+can+function+as+an+exon+splicing+silencer.">hnRNP A1 recruited to an exon in vivo can function as an exon splicing silencer.</a> Mol Cell Biol. 19 (1), 251-260 (1999).</li><li>Auweter, S. D., Oberstrass, F. C., Allain, F. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sequence-specific+binding+of+single-stranded+RNA:+is+there+a+code+for+recognition.">Sequence-specific binding of single-stranded RNA: is there a code for recognition.</a> Nucleic Acids Res. 34 (17), 4943-4959 (2006).</li><li>Dong, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Specific+and+modular+binding+code+for+cytosine+recognition+in+Pumilio/FBF+(PUF)+RNA-binding+domains.">Specific and modular binding code for cytosine recognition in Pumilio/FBF (PUF) RNA-binding domains.</a> J Biol Chem. 286 (30), 26732-26742 (2011).</li><li>Filipovska, A., Razif, M. F., Nyg&#229;rd, K. K., Rackham, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+universal+code+for+RNA+recognition+by+PUF+proteins.">A universal code for RNA recognition by PUF proteins.</a> Nat Chem Biol. 7 (7), 425-427 (2011).</li><li>Wei, H., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+RNA-binding+proteins+with+diverse+activities.">Engineering RNA-binding proteins with diverse activities.</a> Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA. 6 (6), 597-613 (2015).</li><li>Wang, Y., Cheong, C. -. G., Hall, T. M. T., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+splicing+factors+with+designed+specificities.">Engineering splicing factors with designed specificities.</a> Nat Methods. 6 (11), 825-830 (2009).</li><li>Choudhury, R., Tsai, Y. S., Dominguez, D., Wang, Y., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+RNA+endonucleases+with+customized+sequence+specificities.">Engineering RNA endonucleases with customized sequence specificities.</a> Nat Commun. 3, 1147 (2012).</li><li>Wang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+complex+network+of+factors+with+overlapping+affinities+represses+splicing+through+intronic+elements.">A complex network of factors with overlapping affinities represses splicing through intronic elements.</a> Nat Struct Mol Biol. 20 (1), 36-45 (2013).</li><li>McCabe, B. C., Gollnick, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+levels+of+trp+RNA-binding+attenuation+protein+in+Bacillus+subtilis.">Cellular levels of trp RNA-binding attenuation protein in Bacillus subtilis.</a> J Bacteriol. 186 (15), 5157-5159 (2004).</li><li>Wang, Y., Ma, M., Xiao, X., Wang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intronic+splicing+enhancers,+cognate+splicing+factors+and+context-dependent+regulation+rules.">Intronic splicing enhancers, cognate splicing factors and context-dependent regulation rules.</a> Nat Struct Mol Biol. 19 (10), 1044-1052 (2012).</li><li>Choudhury, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+splicing+activator+DAZAP1+integrates+splicing+control+into+MEK/Erk-regulated+cell+proliferation+and+migration.">The splicing activator DAZAP1 integrates splicing control into MEK/Erk-regulated cell proliferation and migration.</a> Nat Commun. 5, (2014).</li><li>Xiao, X., Wang, Z., Jang, M., Burge, C. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coevolutionary+networks+of+splicing+cis-regulatory+elements.">Coevolutionary networks of splicing cis-regulatory elements.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104 (47), 18583-18588 (2007).</li><li>Wang, Z., Xiao, X., Van Nostrand, E., Burge, C. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=General+and+specific+functions+of+exonic+splicing+silencers+in+splicing+control.">General and specific functions of exonic splicing silencers in splicing control.</a> Mol Cell. 23 (1), 61-70 (2006).</li><li>Li, M., Husic, N., Lin, Y., Snider, B. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Production+of+lentiviral+vectors+for+transducing+cells+from+the+central+nervous+system.">Production of lentiviral vectors for transducing cells from the central nervous system.</a> J Vis Exp. (63), e4031 (2012).</li><li>Tiscornia, G., Singer, O., Verma, I. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Production+and+purification+of+lentiviral+vectors.">Production and purification of lentiviral vectors.</a> Nat Protoc. 1 (1), 241-245 (2006).</li><li>Venables, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Aberrant+and+alternative+splicing+in+cancer.">Aberrant and alternative splicing in cancer.</a> Cancer Res. 64 (21), 7647-7654 (2004).</li><li>Cooke, A., Prigge, A., Opperman, L., Wickens, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeted+translational+regulation+using+the+PUF+protein+family+scaffold.">Targeted translational regulation using the PUF protein family scaffold.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 108 (38), 15870-15875 (2011).</li><li>He, C., Zhou, F., Zuo, Z., Cheng, H., Zhou, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+global+view+of+cancer-specific+transcript+variants+by+subtractive+transcriptome-wide+analysis.">A global view of cancer-specific transcript variants by subtractive transcriptome-wide analysis.</a> PloS one. 4 (3), 4732 (2009).</li><li>Venables, J. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+alternative+splicing+markers+for+breast+cancer.">Identification of alternative splicing markers for breast cancer.</a> Cancer Res. 68 (22), 9525-9531 (2008).</li><li>Shapiro, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+EMT-Driven+Alternative+Splicing+Program+Occurs+in+Human+Breast+Cancer.">An EMT-Driven Alternative Splicing Program Occurs in Human Breast Cancer.</a> PLoS Genet. 7 (8), 1002218 (2011).</li><li>David, C. J., Manley, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alternative+pre-mRNA+splicing+regulation+in+cancer:+pathways+and+programs+unhinged.">Alternative pre-mRNA splicing regulation in cancer: pathways and programs unhinged.</a> Genes Dev. 24 (21), 2343-2364 (2010).</li><li>Ladomery, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Aberrant+alternative+splicing+is+another+hallmark+of+cancer.">Aberrant alternative splicing is another hallmark of cancer.</a> Int J Cell biol. 2013, (2013).</li><li>Karni, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+gene+encoding+the+splicing+factor+SF2/ASF+is+a+proto-oncogene.">The gene encoding the splicing factor SF2/ASF is a proto-oncogene.</a> Nat Struct Mol Biol. 14 (3), 185-193 (2007).</li><li>Anczuk&#242;w, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SRSF1-regulated+alternative+splicing+in+breast+cancer.">SRSF1-regulated alternative splicing in breast cancer.</a> Mol cell. 60 (1), 105-117 (2015).</li></ol>

This report provides a detailed description for the design and construction of artificial splicing factors that can specifically manipulate the alternative splicing of a target gene. This method takes advantage of the unique RNA binding mode of PUF repeats to produce an RNA-binding scaffold with customized specificity. It can be used to either activate or repress splicing.
The critical step in this protocol is the generation of the reprogramed PUF domain that defines the specificity of ESFs. A...

Most human genes undergo Alternative Splicing (AS) to produce multiple isoforms with distinct activities, which has greatly increased the coding complexity of the genome1,2. AS provides a major mechanism to regulate gene function, and it is tightly regulated through diverse pathways in different cellular and developmental stages3,4. Because splicing misregulation is a common cause of human disease5,6,7,8, targeting splicing regulation is becoming an attractive therapeutic route.
According to a simplified model of splicing regulation, AS is mainly controlled by Splicing Regulatory cis-Elements (SREs) in pre-mRNA that function as splicing enhancers or silencers of alternative exons. These SREs specifically recruit various trans-acting protein factors (i.e.&#160;splicing factors) that promote or suppress the splicing reaction3,9. Most trans-acting splicing factors have separate sequence-specific RNA binding domains to recognize their targets and effector domains to control splicing. The best-known examples are the members of the serine/arginine-rich (SR) protein family that contain N-terminal RNA Recognition Motifs (RRMs), which bind exonic splicing enhancers, and C-terminal RS domains, which promote exon inclusion10. Conversely, hnRNP A1 binds to exonic splicing silencers through the RRM domains and inhibits exon inclusion through a C-terminal glycine-rich domain11. Using such modular configurations, researchers should be able to engineer artificial splicing factors by combining a specific RNA-Binding Domain (RBD) with different effector domains that activate or inhibit splicing.
The key of such a design is to use an RBD that recognizes given targets with programmable RNA binding specificity, which is analogous to the DNA-binding mode of the TALE domain. However, most native splicing factors contain RRM or K Homology (KH) domains, which recognize short RNA elements with weak affinity and thus lack a predictive RNA-protein recognition &#34;code&#34;12. The RBD of PUF repeat proteins (i.e.&#160;the PUF domain) has a unique RNA recognition mode, allowing for the redesign of PUF domains to specifically recognize different RNA targets13,14. The canonical PUF domain contains eight repeats of three &#945;-helices, each recognizing a single base in an 8-nt RNA target. The side chains of amino acids at certain positions of the second &#945;-helix form specific hydrogen bonds with the Watson-Crick edge of the RNA base, which determines the RNA binding specificity of each repeat (Figure 1A). The code for RNA base recognition of the PUF repeat is surprisingly simple (Figure 1A), allowing for the generation of PUF domains that recognize any possible 8-base combination (reviewed by Wei and Wang15).
This modular design principle allows for the generation of an Engineered Splicing Factor (ESF) that consists of a customized PUF domain and a splicing modulation domain (i.e.&#160;an SR domain or a Gly-rich domain). These ESFs can function as either splicing activators or as inhibitors to control various types of splicing events, and they have proven useful as tools to manipulate the splicing of endogenous genes related to human disease16,17. As an example, we have constructed PUF-Gly-type ESFs to specifically alter the splicing of the Bcl-x gene, converting the anti-apoptotic long isoform (Bcl-xL) to the pro-apoptotic short isoform (Bcl-xS). Shifting the ratio of the Bcl-x isoform was sufficient to sensitize several cancer cells to multiple anti-cancer chemotherapy drugs16, suggesting that these artificial factors may be useful as potential therapeutic reagents.
In addition to controlling splicing with known splicing effector domains (e.g., an RS or Gly-rich domain), the engineered PUF factors can also be used to examine the activities of new splicing factors. For example, using this approach, we have demonstrated that the C-terminal domain of several SR proteins can activate or inhibit splicing when binding to different pre-mRNA regions18, that the alanine-rich motif of RBM4 can inhibit splicing19, and that the proline-rich motif of DAZAP1 can enhance splicing20,21. These new functional domains can be used to construct additional types of artificial factors to fine-tune splicing.

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	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:420px;">High-fidelity DNA polymerase (Phusion High-Fidelity) with PCR buffer</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">New England Biolabs</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">M0530L</td>
			<td style="width:491px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DNA ligase (T4 DNA ligase)</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>M0202L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Liposomal transfection reagent (Lipofectamine 2000)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>11668-019</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Reduced serum medium (Opti-MEM)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>31985-062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">RNA extraction buffer (TRIzol Reagent)</td>
			<td>ambion</td>
			<td>15596018</td>
			<td>TRIzol reagent includes phenol, which can cause burns. Wear gloves when handling</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A7638-5G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PBS (1X)</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>10010-031</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">SuperScript III reverse transcriptase</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>18080044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Caspase-3 antibody</td>
			<td>Cell Signaling Technology</td>
			<td>9668</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PARP&#160;antibody</td>
			<td>Cell Signaling Technology</td>
			<td>9542</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Bcl-x antibody</td>
			<td>BD Bioscience</td>
			<td>610211</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">beta-actin antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A5441</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">alpha-tubulin antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T5168</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">FLAG antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>F4042</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Nitrocellulose membrane</td>
			<td>Amersham-Pharmacia</td>
			<td>RPN203D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ECL Western Blotting detection reagents</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>WP20005</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cy5-dCTP</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td>PA55021</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Fluorescence-activated cell sorter</td>
			<td>BD Bioscience</td>
			<td>FACSCalibur&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Dulbecco&#8217;s Modified Eagle&#8217;s Medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td>SH30243.01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>26140079</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Propidium iodide (PI)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P4170</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A7638-5G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Triton-X100</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>H5142</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Poly-lysine&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P-4832</td>
			<td>Filter sterilize and store at 4 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Vector&#160; pWPXLd</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>12258</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Vector pMD2.G</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>12259</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Vector psPAX2</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>12260</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DNase I (RNase-free)</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>M0303S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">Oligo(dT)18 Primer</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>SO131&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Anti-mouse secondary antibody (Anti-mouse IgG, HRP-linked Antibody)</td>
			<td>Cell Signaling Technology</td>
			<td>7076S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

engineering artificial factors to specifically manipulate alternative splicing in human cells

The processing of most eukaryotic RNAs is mediated by RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) with modular configurations, including an RNA recognition module, which specifically binds the pre-mRNA target and an effector domain. Previously, we have taken advantage of the unique RNA binding mode of the PUF domain in human Pumilio 1 to generate a programmable RNA binding scaffold, which was used to engineer various artificial RBPs to manipulate RNA metabolism. Here, a detailed protocol is described to construct Engineered Splicing Factors (ESFs) that are specifically designed to modulate the alternative splicing of target genes. The protocol includes how to design and construct a customized PUF scaffold for a specific RNA target, how to construct an ESF expression plasmid by fusing a designer PUF domain and an effector domain, and how to use ESFs to manipulate the splicing of target genes. In the representative results of this method, we have also described the common assays of ESF activities using splicing reporters, the application of ESF in cultured human cells, and the subsequent effect of splicing changes. By following the detailed protocols in this report, it is possible to design and generate ESFs for the regulation of different types of Alternative Splicing (AS), providing a new strategy to study splicing regulation and the function of different splicing isoforms. Moreover, by fusing different functional domains with a designed PUF domain, researchers can engineer artificial factors that target specific RNAs to manipulate various steps of RNA processing.

This report describes the complete protocol for the design and construction of ESFs and splicing reporters. It also outlines the further application of ESFs in manipulating the AS of endogenous genes16. To illustrate typical results of ESF-mediated splicing changes, we use the data from our previous work as an example. The ESFs with different functional domains can be used to promote or inhibit the inclusion of the target cassette exon (Figure ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells at JoVE.com

Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells

This report describes a bioengineering method to design and construct novel Artificial Splicing Factors (ASFs) that specifically modulate the splicing of target genes in mammalian cells. This method can be further expanded to engineer various artificial factors to manipulate other aspects of RNA metabolism.

The processing of most eukaryotic RNAs is mediated by RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs) with modular configurations, including an RNA recognition module, which ...

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