The long-term goal of this project is to investigate a novel function of the Hu family of paraneoplastic neurological disease (PND) antigens in neurons as alternative splicing regulators. Hu proteins belong to a group of neuronal RNA-binding proteins that were cloned using antiserum from PND patients and are antigens of the Hu syndrome triggered by small cell lung carcinomas. Similar to their closest Drosophila homolog ELAV, Hu proteins were shown to be required for neuronal differentiation in the mammalian nervous system. However, the function of Hu proteins as RNA-binding proteins is not understood. Except for a handful of examples indicating that they bind to the AU-rich element of 3'-untanslated region of mRNA to regulate mRNA stability and translation, the in vivo targets of Hu proteins are largely unknown. Recently we have identified two RNA targets for Hu proteins and provided compelling evidence for a prominent role of these proteins as alternative splicing regulators. To characterize the novel function of Hu proteins as splicing regulators in neurons, we propose three specific aims.
In aims I and II, we will study the mechanisms that control the neuron-specific alternative RNA processing of the two newly identified Hu target-containing pre-mRNAs by Hu proteins. Specific hypotheses regarding the function of Hu proteins will be generated and tested with both in vitro and in vivo experiments.
In aim III, we will identify additional neuronal targets bound by Hu proteins using both in silico database screening and genomic SELEX approaches. The identification of these novel targets will provide the basis for future work that will focus on universality of the principle developed in the proposed studies. These studies will provide not only significant insights into the role of Hu proteins in the development and function of neurons, but also important hints of pathogenesis of the PND disease, the Hu syndrome. Finally, these studies will also greatly increase our understanding of the mechanisms controlling alternative splicing in neurons.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS049103-03
Application #
7082879
Study Section
Neurogenesis and Cell Fate Study Section (NCF)
Program Officer
Mamounas, Laura
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2008-06-30
Budget Start
2006-07-01
Budget End
2007-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$276,399
Indirect Cost
Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106
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Zhou, Hua-Lin; Lou, Hua (2016) In Vitro Analysis of Ribonucleoprotein Complex Remodeling and Disassembly. Methods Mol Biol 1421:69-78
Sharma, Alok; Nguyen, Hieu; Cai, Lu et al. (2015) Histone hyperacetylation and exon skipping: a calcium-mediated dynamic regulation in cardiomyocytes. Nucleus 6:273-8
Sharma, Alok; Nguyen, Hieu; Geng, Cuiyu et al. (2014) Calcium-mediated histone modifications regulate alternative splicing in cardiomyocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:E4920-8
Zhou, Hua-Lin; Luo, Guangbin; Wise, Jo Ann et al. (2014) Regulation of alternative splicing by local histone modifications: potential roles for RNA-guided mechanisms. Nucleic Acids Res 42:701-13
Hinman, Melissa N; Sharma, Alok; Luo, Guangbin et al. (2014) Neurofibromatosis type 1 alternative splicing is a key regulator of Ras signaling in neurons. Mol Cell Biol 34:2188-97
Hinman, Melissa N; Zhou, Hua-Lin; Sharma, Alok et al. (2013) All three RNA recognition motifs and the hinge region of HuC play distinct roles in the regulation of alternative splicing. Nucleic Acids Res 41:5049-61
Zhou, Hua-Lin; Geng, Cuiyu; Luo, Guangbin et al. (2013) The p97-UBXD8 complex destabilizes mRNA by promoting release of ubiquitinated HuR from mRNP. Genes Dev 27:1046-58
Fleming, Victoria A; Geng, Cuiyu; Ladd, Andrea N et al. (2012) Alternative splicing of the neurofibromatosis type 1 pre-mRNA is regulated by the muscleblind-like proteins and the CUG-BP and ELAV-like factors. BMC Mol Biol 13:35
Barron, Victoria A; Lou, Hua (2012) Alternative splicing of the neurofibromatosis typeýýI pre-mRNA. Biosci Rep 32:131-8

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