Name: using the e1a minigene tool to study mrna splicing changes
Uploaded: 2021-04-22T13:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using the E1A Minigene Tool to Study mRNA Splicing Changes at JoVE.com

We thank Funda&#231;&#227;o de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de S&#227;o Paulo (FAPESP, through Grant Tem&#225;tico 2017/03489-1 to JK and fellowship to FLB 2018/05350-3) and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnol&#243;gico (CNPq) for funding this research. We would like to thank Dr Adrian Krainer for providing the pMTE1A plasmid and Zerler and colleagues for their work in E1A cloning. We also thank Prof. Dr. Patr&#237;cia Moriel, Prof. Dr. Wanda Pereira Almeida, Prof. Dr. Marcelo Lancellotti and Prof. Dr. Karina Kogo Cogo M&#252;ller to allow us to use their laboratory space and equipment.

1. Plating cells
NOTE: In this described protocol, HEK293 stable cell lines, previously generated for stable inducible expression of Nek4 were used21, however, the same protocol is suitable to many other cell lines, such as HEK29322, HeLa23,24,25,26, U-2 OS27, COS728, SH-SY5...

<ol>
	<li>Ule, J., Blencowe, 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=Alternative+Splicing+Regulatory+Networks:+Functions,+Mechanisms,+and+Evolution.">Alternative Splicing Regulatory Networks: Functions, Mechanisms, and Evolution.</a> Molecular Cell. 76 (2), 329-345 (2019).</li><li>Pan, Q., Shai, O., Lee, L. J., Frey, B. J., Blencowe, 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=Deep+surveying+of+alternative+splicing+complexity+in+the+human+transcriptome+by+high-throughput+sequencing.">Deep surveying of alternative splicing complexity in the human transcriptome by high-throughput sequencing.</a> Nature Genetics. 40 (12), 1413-1415 (2008).</li><li>Nilsen, T. W., Graveley, B. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expansion+of+the+eukaryotic+proteome+by+alternative+splicing.">Expansion of the eukaryotic proteome by alternative splicing.</a> Nature. 463 (7280), 457-463 (2010).</li><li>Stamm, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Signals+and+their+transduction+pathways+regulating+alternative+splicing:+a+new+dimension+of+the+human+genome.">Signals and their transduction pathways regulating alternative splicing: a new dimension of the human genome.</a> Human Molecular Genetics. 11 (20), 2409-2416 (2002).</li><li>Kornblihtt, A. 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=Alternative+splicing:+a+pivotal+step+between+eukaryotic+transcription+and+translation.">Alternative splicing: a pivotal step between eukaryotic transcription and translation.</a> Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 14 (3), 153-165 (2013).</li><li>Zhong, X. -. Y., Ding, J. -. H., Adams, J. A., Ghosh, G., Fu, X. -. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+SR+protein+phosphorylation+and+alternative+splicing+by+modulating+kinetic+interactions+of+SRPK1+with+molecular+chaperones.">Regulation of SR protein phosphorylation and alternative splicing by modulating kinetic interactions of SRPK1 with molecular chaperones.</a> Genes &amp; Development. 23 (4), 482-495 (2009).</li><li>Misteli, T., C&#225;ceres, J. F., Clement, J. Q., Krainer, A. R., Wilkinson, M. F., Spector, 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=Serine+Phosphorylation+of+SR+Proteins+Is+Required+for+Their+Recruitment+to+Sites+of+Transcription+In+Vivo.">Serine Phosphorylation of SR Proteins Is Required for Their Recruitment to Sites of Transcription In Vivo.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 143 (2), 297-307 (1998).</li><li>Kanopka, A., 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=Regulation+of+adenovirus+alternative+RNA+splicing+by+dephosphorylation+of+SR+proteins.">Regulation of adenovirus alternative RNA splicing by dephosphorylation of SR proteins.</a> Nature. 393 (6681), 185-187 (1998).</li><li>Anufrieva, K. 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=Therapy-induced+stress+response+is+associated+with+downregulation+of+pre-mRNA+splicing+in+cancer+cells.">Therapy-induced stress response is associated with downregulation of pre-mRNA splicing in cancer cells.</a> Genome Medicine. 10 (1), 49 (2018).</li><li>Shultz, J. C., 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+Regulates+the+Alternative+Splicing+of+Caspase+9+Via+A+Novel+Intronic+Splicing+Enhancer+Affecting+the+Chemotherapeutic+Sensitivity+of+Non-Small+Cell+Lung+Cancer+Cells.">SRSF1 Regulates the Alternative Splicing of Caspase 9 Via A Novel Intronic Splicing Enhancer Affecting the Chemotherapeutic Sensitivity of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.</a> Molecular Cancer Research. 9 (7), 889-900 (2011).</li><li>Gabriel, M., 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=Role+of+the+splicing+factor+SRSF4+in+cisplatin-induced+modifications+of+pre-mRNA+splicing+and+apoptosis.">Role of the splicing factor SRSF4 in cisplatin-induced modifications of pre-mRNA splicing and apoptosis.</a> BMC Cancer. 15, (2015).</li><li>Lee, S. C. -. W., Abdel-Wahab, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Therapeutic+targeting+of+splicing+in+cancer.">Therapeutic targeting of splicing in cancer.</a> Nature Medicine. 22 (9), 976-986 (2016).</li><li>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=Use+of+minigene+systems+to+dissect+alternative+splicing+elements.">Use of minigene systems to dissect alternative splicing elements.</a> Methods. 37 (4), 331-340 (2005).</li><li>Stoss, O., Stoilov, P., Hartmann, A. M., Nayler, O., Stamm, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+in+vivo+minigene+approach+to+analyze+tissue-specific+splicing.">The in vivo minigene approach to analyze tissue-specific splicing.</a> Brain Research Protocols. 4 (3), 383-394 (1999).</li><li>Zerler, B., 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=Adenovirus+E1A+coding+sequences+that+enable+ras+and+pmt+oncogenes+to+transform+cultured+primary+cells.">Adenovirus E1A coding sequences that enable ras and pmt oncogenes to transform cultured primary cells.</a> Molecular and Cellular Biology. 6 (3), 887-899 (1986).</li><li>Gattoni, R., Schmitt, P., Stevenin, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+splicing+of+adenovirus+E1A+transcripts:+characterization+of+novel+reactions+and+of+multiple+branch+points+abnormally+far+from+the+3'+splice+site.">In vitro splicing of adenovirus E1A transcripts: characterization of novel reactions and of multiple branch points abnormally far from the 3' splice site.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 16 (6), 2389-2409 (1988).</li><li>Stephens, C., Harlow, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+splicing+yields+novel+adenovirus+5+E1A+mRNAs+that+encode+30+kd+and+35+kd+proteins.">Differential splicing yields novel adenovirus 5 E1A mRNAs that encode 30 kd and 35 kd proteins.</a> The EMBO journal. 6 (7), 2027-2035 (1987).</li><li>Ulfendahl, P. J., 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+novel+adenovirus-2+E1A+mRNA+encoding+a+protein+with+transcription+activation+properties.">A novel adenovirus-2 E1A mRNA encoding a protein with transcription activation properties.</a> The EMBO journal. 6 (7), 2037-2044 (1987).</li><li>Berk, A. J., Sharp, P. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structure+of+the+adenovirus+2+early+mRNAs.">Structure of the adenovirus 2 early mRNAs.</a> Cell. 14 (3), 695-711 (1978).</li><li>Svensson, C., Pettersson, U., Akusj&#228;rvi, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Splicing+of+adenovirus+2+early+region+1A+mRNAs+is+non-sequential.">Splicing of adenovirus 2 early region 1A mRNAs is non-sequential.</a> Journal of Molecular Biology. 165 (3), 475-495 (1983).</li><li>Basei, F. L., Meirelles, G. V., Righetto, G. L., dos Santos Migueleti, D. L., Smetana, J. H. C., Kobarg, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+interaction+partners+for+Nek4.1+and+Nek4.2+isoforms:+from+the+DNA+damage+response+to+RNA+splicing.">New interaction partners for Nek4.1 and Nek4.2 isoforms: from the DNA damage response to RNA splicing.</a> Proteome Science. 13 (1), 11 (2015).</li><li>Zhou, Z., 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+Akt-SRPK-SR+Axis+Constitutes+a+Major+Pathway+in+Transducing+EGF+Signaling+to+Regulate+Alternative+Splicing+in+the+Nucleus.">The Akt-SRPK-SR Axis Constitutes a Major Pathway in Transducing EGF Signaling to Regulate Alternative Splicing in the Nucleus.</a> Molecular Cell. 47 (3), 422-433 (2012).</li><li>Caceres, J., Stamm, S., Helfman, D., Krainer, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+alternative+splicing+in+vivo+by+overexpression+of+antagonistic+splicing+factors.">Regulation of alternative splicing in vivo by overexpression of antagonistic splicing factors.</a> Science. 265 (5179), 1706-1709 (1994).</li><li>Zhong, X. -. Y., Ding, J. -. H., Adams, J. A., Ghosh, G., Fu, X. -. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+SR+protein+phosphorylation+and+alternative+splicing+by+modulating+kinetic+interactions+of+SRPK1+with+molecular+chaperones.">Regulation of SR protein phosphorylation and alternative splicing by modulating kinetic interactions of SRPK1 with molecular chaperones.</a> Genes &amp; Development. 23 (4), 482-495 (2009).</li><li>Naro, C., 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+centrosomal+kinase+NEK2+is+a+novel+splicing+factor+kinase+involved+in+cell+survival.">The centrosomal kinase NEK2 is a novel splicing factor kinase involved in cell survival.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 42 (5), 3218-3227 (2014).</li><li>Lu, C. -. C., Chen, T. -. H., Wu, J. -. R., Chen, H. -. H., Yu, H. -. Y., Tarn, W. -. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phylogenetic+and+Molecular+Characterization+of+the+Splicing+Factor+RBM4.">Phylogenetic and Molecular Characterization of the Splicing Factor RBM4.</a> PLoS ONE. 8 (3), 59092 (2013).</li><li>Jarn&#230;ss, E., 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=Splicing+Factor+Arginine/Serine-rich+17A+(SFRS17A)+Is+an+A-kinase+Anchoring+Protein+That+Targets+Protein+Kinase+A+to+Splicing+Factor+Compartments.">Splicing Factor Arginine/Serine-rich 17A (SFRS17A) Is an A-kinase Anchoring Protein That Targets Protein Kinase A to Splicing Factor Compartments.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 284 (50), 35154-35164 (2009).</li><li>Bressan, G. C., 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=Functional+association+of+human+Ki-1/57+with+pre-mRNA+splicing+events.">Functional association of human Ki-1/57 with pre-mRNA splicing events.</a> FEBS Journal. 276 (14), 3770-3783 (2009).</li><li>Vivarelli, 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=Paraquat+Modulates+Alternative+Pre-mRNA+Splicing+by+Modifying+the+Intracellular+Distribution+of+SRPK2.">Paraquat Modulates Alternative Pre-mRNA Splicing by Modifying the Intracellular Distribution of SRPK2.</a> PLoS ONE. 8 (4), 61980 (2013).</li><li>Russell, W. C., Graham, F. L., Smiley, J., Nairn, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characteristics+of+a+Human+Cell+Line+Transformed+by+DNA+from+Human+Adenovirus+Type+5.">Characteristics of a Human Cell Line Transformed by DNA from Human Adenovirus Type 5.</a> Journal of General Virology. 36 (1), 59-72 (1977).</li><li>Aranda, P. S., LaJoie, D. M., Jorcyk, C. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bleach+gel:+A+simple+agarose+gel+for+analyzing+RNA+quality.">Bleach gel: A simple agarose gel for analyzing RNA quality.</a> Electrophoresis. 33 (2), 366-369 (2012).</li><li>Schindelin, J., 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=Fiji:+an+open-source+platform+for+biological-image+analysis.">Fiji: an open-source platform for biological-image analysis.</a> Nature Methods. 9 (7), 676-682 (2012).</li><li>Bai, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Control+of+3'+splice+site+choice+in+vivo+by+ASF/SF2+and+hnRNP+A1.">Control of 3' splice site choice in vivo by ASF/SF2 and hnRNP A1.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 27 (4), 1126-1134 (1999).</li><li>Cote, G. J., Nguyen, N., Lips, C. J. M., Berget, S. M., Gagel, R. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Validation+of+an+in+vitro+RNA+processing+system+for+CT/CGRP+precursor+mRNA.">Validation of an in vitro RNA processing system for CT/CGRP precursor mRNA.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 19 (13), 3601-3606 (1991).</li></ol>

Minigenes are important tools to determine the effects in global alternative splicing in vivo. The adenoviral minigene E1A has been used successfully for decades to evaluate the role of proteins by increasing the amount of these in the cell13,14. Here, we propose the minigene E1A use for evaluating alternative splicing after chemotherapeutic exposure. A stable cell line expressing Nek4 isoform 1 was used, avoiding the artifacts of overexpression caused by transie...

Splicing is among the most important steps in eukaryotic mRNA processing that occurs simultaneously to 5&#180;mRNA capping and 3&#180;mRNA polyadenylation, comprising of intron removal followed by exon junction. The recognition of the splicing sites (SS) by the spliceosome, a ribonucleoprotein complex containing small ribonucleoproteins (snRNP U1, U2, U4 and U6), small RNAs (snRNAs) and several regulatory proteins1 is necessary for splicing.
Besides intron removal (constitutive splicing), in eukaryotes, introns can be retained and exons can be excluded, configuring the process called mRNA alternative splicing (AS). The alternative pre-mRNA splicing expands the coding capacity of eukaryotic genomes allowing the production of a large and diverse number of proteins from a relatively small number of genes. It is estimated that 95-100% of human mRNAs that contain more than one exon can undergo alternative splicing2,3. This is fundamental for biological processes like neuronal development, apoptosis activation and cellular stress response4, providing the organism alternatives to regulate cell functioning using the same repertoire of genes.
The machinery necessary for alternative splicing is the same used for constitutive splicing and the usage of the SS is the main determinant for alternative splicing occurrence. Constitutive splicing is related to the use of strong splicing sites, which are usually more similar to consensus motifs for spliceosome recognition5.
Alternative exons are typically recognized less efficiently than constitutive exons once its cis-regulatory elements, the sequences in 5&#180;SS and 3&#180;SS flanking these exons, show an inferior binding capacity to the spliceosome. mRNA also contains regions named enhancers or silencers located in exons (exonic splicing enhancers (ESEs) and exonic splicing silencers (ESSs)) and introns (intronic splicing enhancers (ISEs) and intronic splicing silencers (ISSs)) that enhance or repress exon usage, respectively5. These sequences are recognized by trans-regulatory elements, or splicing factors (SF). SFs are represented mainly by two families of proteins, the serine/arginine rich splicing factors (SRSFs) which bind to ESEs and the family of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) which bind to ESSs sequences5.
Alternative splicing can be modulated by phosphorylation/ dephosphorylation of trans- factors modifying the interactions partners and cellular localization of splicing factors6,7,8. Identifying new regulators of splicing factors can provide new tools to regulate splicing and, consequently, some cancer treatments.
Anufrieva et al.9, in a mRNA microarray gene expression profile, observed consistent changes in levels of spliceosomal components in 101 cell lines and after different stress conditions (platinum-based drugs, gamma irradiation, topoisomerase inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and taxanes). The relationship among splicing pattern and chemotherapy efficacy has already been demonstrated in lung cancer cells, which are chemotherapy resistant, showing changes in caspase-9 variants rate10. HEK293 cells treated with chemotherapeutics panel show changes in splicing with an increase in pro-apoptotic variants. Gabriel et al.11 observed changes in at least 700 events of splicing after cisplatin treatment in different cell lines, pointing out that splicing pathways are cisplatin-affected. Splicing modulators have already demonstrated anti-tumoral activity, showing that splicing is important to tumoral development and, mainly, chemotherapy response12. Hence, characterizing new proteins that regulate splicing after cellular stressors agents, like chemotherapeutics, is very important to discover new strategies of treatment.
The clues of alternative splicing regulation from interactome studies, particularly important to characterize functions of new or uncharacterized proteins, can demand a more general and simple approach to verify the real role of the protein in AS. Minigenes are important tools for analysis of the general role of a protein affecting splicing regulation. They contain segments from a gene of interest containing alternatively spliced and flanking genomic regions13. Using a minigene tool allows the analysis of splicing in vivo with several advantages such as the length of the minigene which is minor and therefore is not a limitation to the amplification reaction; the same minigene can be evaluated in different cell lines; all cellular components, mainly their regulating post-translational modification (phosphorylation and changes in cell compartments) are present and can be addressed13,14. Moreover, changes in alternative splicing pattern can be observed after cellular stress and, the use of a minigene system, allow to identify the pathway being modulated by different stimuli.
There are several minigene systems already described which are specific for different kinds of splicing events13,14, however, as a preliminary assay, the minigene E1A15 is a very well established alternative splicing reporter system for the study of 5&#180;SS selection in vivo. From only one gene, E1A, five mRNAs are produced by alternative splicing based on selection of three different 5&#8242; splice sites and of one major or one minor 3&#8242; splice site16,17,18. The expression of E1A variants changes according to the period of Adenoviral infection19,20.
We have shown previously that both Nek4 isoforms interact with splicing factors such as SRSF1 and hnRNPA1 and while isoform 2 changes minigene E1A alternative splicing, isoform 1 has no effect in that21. Because isoform 1 is the most abundant isoform and changes chemotherapy resistance and DNA damage response, we evaluate if it could change minigene E1A alternative splicing in a stress condition.
Minigene assay is a simple, low-cost and rapid method, since it only needs RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, amplification and agarose gel analyses, and can be a useful tool to evaluate since a possible effect on alternative splicing by a protein of interests until the effect of different treatments on cellular alternative splicing pattern.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>100 pb DNA Ladder</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15628-050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6 wells plate</td>
			<td>Sarstedt</td>
			<td>833920</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agarose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A9539-250G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cisplatin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P4394</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DEPC water</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>AM9920</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>11965118</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>dNTP mix</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>10297-018</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal Bovine Serum - FBS</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>12657029</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescent Microscope</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>DMIL LED FLUO</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gel imaging acquisition system - ChemiDoc Gel Imagin System</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GFP - pEGFPC3</td>
			<td>Clontech</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEK293 stable cells - HEK293 Flp-In</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Generated from Flp-In&#8482; T-REx&#8482; 293 - Invitrogen and described in ref 21</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hygromycin B</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>10687010</td>
			<td>Used for Flp-In cells maintenemant</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Image processing and analysis software - FIJI software</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>ref. 32</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lipid- based transfection reagent - jetOPTIMUS Polyplus Reagent</td>
			<td>Polyplus</td>
			<td>117-07</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oligo DT</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>18418020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paclitxel</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>P3456</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plate Reader/ UV absorbance</td>
			<td>Biotech</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Epoch Biotek/ Take3 adapter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pMTE1A plasmid</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Provided by Dr. Adrian Krainer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pMTE1A F</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>&#160;5&#8217; -ATTATCTGCCACGGAGGTGT-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pMTE1A R</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>5&#8217; -GGATAGCAGGCGCCATTTTA-3&#8217;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Refrigerated centrifuge</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>F5810R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reverse Transcriptase - M-MLV</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>28025013</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reverse transcriptase - Superscript IV</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>18090050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ribunuclease inhibitor RNAse OUT</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>10777-019</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RNA extraction phenol-chloroform based reagent - Trizol</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>15596018</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SybrSafe DNA gel stain</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>S33102</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Taq Platinum</td>
			<td>Thermo</td>
			<td>10966026</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tetracyclin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T3383</td>
			<td>Used for Flag empty or Nek4- Flag expression induction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermocycler Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>T100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T4799</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

using the e1a minigene tool to study mrna splicing changes

mRNA processing involves multiple simultaneous steps to prepare mRNA for translation, such as 5&#180;capping, poly-A addition and splicing. Besides constitutive splicing, alternative mRNA splicing allows the expression of multifunctional proteins from one gene. As interactome studies are generally the first analysis for new or unknown proteins, the association of the bait protein with splicing factors is an indication that it can participate in mRNA splicing process, but to determine in what context or what genes are regulated is an empirical process. A good starting point to evaluate this function is using the classical minigene tool. Here we present the adenoviral E1A minigene usage for evaluating the alternative splicing changes after different cellular stress stimuli. We evaluated the splicing of E1A minigene in HEK293 stably overexpressing Nek4 protein after different stressing treatments. The protocol includes E1A minigene transfection, cell treatment, RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, followed by PCR and gel analysis and quantification of the E1A spliced variants. The use of this simple and well-established method combined with specific treatments is a reliable starting point to shed light on cellular processes or what genes can be regulated by mRNA splicing.

A 5&#180; splice sites&#160;assay using E1A minigene was performed to evaluate changes in splicing profile in cells after chemotherapy exposition. The role of Nek4 - isoform 1 in AS regulation in HEK293 stable cells after paclitaxel or cisplatin treatment was evaluated.
Adenoviral E1A region is responsible for the production of three main mRNAs from one RNA precursor because of the use of different splice donors. They share comm...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Using the E1A Minigene Tool to Study mRNA Splicing Changes at JoVE.com

Using the E1A Minigene Tool to Study mRNA Splicing Changes

This protocol presents a rapid and useful tool for evaluating the role of a protein with uncharacterized function in alternative splicing regulation after chemotherapeutic treatment.

mRNA processing involves multiple simultaneous steps to prepare mRNA for translation, such as 5&#180;capping, poly-A addition and splicing. Besides ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Cancer Research

Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion

Glioblastoma multiforme (grade IV glioma) is a very aggressive human cancer with a median survival of 1 year post diagnosis. Despite the increased ...

Conditional Knockdown of Gene Expression in Cancer Cell Lines to Study the Recruitment of Monocytes/Macrophages to the Tumor Microenvironment

siRNA and shRNA-mediated knock down (KD) methods of regulating gene expression are invaluable tools for understanding gene and protein function. However, ...

Using the Dot Assay to Analyze Migration of Cell Sheets

Although complex organisms appear static, their tissues are under a continuous turnover. As cells age, die, and are replaced by new cells, cells move ...

Dried Blood and Serum Spots As A Useful Tool for Sample Storage to Evaluate Cancer Biomarkers

Blood sample quality is crucial to ensure accurate downstream analyses such as real-time PCR or ELISA. Correct storage of biological materials is the ...

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

A hallmark of advanced tumors is a switch to aerobic glycolysis that is readily measured by [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography ...

A Syngeneic Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Model to Study the Effects of Irreversible Electroporation

Pancreatic cancer (PC), a disease which kills approximately 40,000 patients each year in the US, has successfully evaded several therapeutic approaches ...

Live-Cell Imaging Assays to Study Glioblastoma Brain Tumor Stem Cell Migration and Invasion

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor that is poorly controlled with the currently available treatment options. Key features of GBMs include ...

In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction

Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) account for a large percentage of cells in the tumor mass for different types of cancers. Glioblastoma (GBM), a ...

Using the Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane In Vivo Model to Study Gynecological and Urological Cancers

Mouse models are the benchmark tests for in vivo cancer studies. However, cost, time, and ethical considerations have led to calls for alternative in vivo ...

Portal Vein Injection of Colorectal Cancer Organoids to Study the Liver Metastasis Stroma

Hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a major component of the ...