Most human genes produce multiple distinct mRNA and protein isoforms through alternative splicing (AS). AS can produce protein isoforms that often have distinct or even antagonistic biological functions, is often tissue- specific, and contributes to various diseases. Our approach to the long-term goal of understanding the regulation and evolution of AS in mammals is organized around the following specific aims: SA1. Understand the evolution of alternative mRNA isoforms in mammals and the nature of genomic changes that alter splicing patterns. SA2. To develop analytical methods for quantitative inference of mRNA isoform abundance and translational activity from RNA-Seq and ribosome footprinting (Ribo-Seq) data, and to develop models to understand quantitative changes in organism- and tissue-specific regulation of mRNA isoforms. SA3. To construct a splicing regulatory network of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Our lab is generating RNA-Seq data spanning 10 diverse tissues from each of 5 vertebrate species - rhesus macaque, mouse, rat, cow and chicken. We will apply state-of-the art tools for RNA-Seq-based genome annotation to these and available human data, to annotate the transcriptomes of these organisms. These data will be used to trace the evolutionary histories of the exon-intron structures and splicing patterns of mammalian genes. We will extend a Bayesian mixture model we have developed to estimate levels of alternative isoforms from RNA-Seq data in several ways, including integrating with transcriptome annotation tools and extending to Ribo-Seq data, and we will develop models to quantitatively predict alternative isoform abundance. Finally, we will determine auto- and cross-regulatory relationships between 50 major splicing regulatory factors expressed in mESCs in order to construct a network model of splicing regulation in this fundamental cell type, using RNAi and overexpression coupled with RNA-Seq and Ribo-Seq. Together, these studies will provide a comprehensive basis for understanding alternative mRNA isoform regulation in mammals.

Public Health Relevance

This project will provide comprehensive resources, tools and concepts for understanding the different protein forms produced by human genes, including their evolutionary histories and regulation. These resources, tools and concepts will aid in understanding mammalian development and the pathogenic mechanisms of a variety of diseases related to misregulation of alternative splicing, including myotonic dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, retinitis pigmentosa and cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HG002439-11
Application #
8326606
Study Section
Genomics, Computational Biology and Technology Study Section (GCAT)
Program Officer
Feingold, Elise A
Project Start
2002-02-06
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2012-06-01
Budget End
2013-05-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$500,001
Indirect Cost
$188,474
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
001425594
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02139
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Taliaferro, J Matthew; Lambert, Nicole J; Sudmant, Peter H et al. (2016) RNA Sequence Context Effects Measured In Vitro Predict In Vivo Protein Binding and Regulation. Mol Cell 64:294-306
Taliaferro, J Matthew; Vidaki, Marina; Oliveira, Ruan et al. (2016) Distal Alternative Last Exons Localize mRNAs to Neural Projections. Mol Cell 61:821-33
Merkin, Jason J; Chen, Ping; Alexis, Maria S et al. (2015) Origins and impacts of new mammalian exons. Cell Rep 10:1992-2005
Katz, Yarden; Wang, Eric T; Silterra, Jacob et al. (2015) Quantitative visualization of alternative exon expression from RNA-seq data. Bioinformatics 31:2400-2
Lambert, Nicole; Robertson, Alex; Jangi, Mohini et al. (2014) RNA Bind-n-Seq: quantitative assessment of the sequence and structural binding specificity of RNA binding proteins. Mol Cell 54:887-900
Shalgi, Reut; Hurt, Jessica A; Krykbaeva, Irina et al. (2013) Widespread regulation of translation by elongation pausing in heat shock. Mol Cell 49:439-52
Spies, Noah; Burge, Christopher B; Bartel, David P (2013) 3' UTR-isoform choice has limited influence on the stability and translational efficiency of most mRNAs in mouse fibroblasts. Genome Res 23:2078-90
Han, Hong; Irimia, Manuel; Ross, P Joel et al. (2013) MBNL proteins repress ES-cell-specific alternative splicing and reprogramming. Nature 498:241-5
Hurt, Jessica A; Robertson, Alex D; Burge, Christopher B (2013) Global analyses of UPF1 binding and function reveal expanded scope of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Genome Res 23:1636-50

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