The removal of introns from pre-mRNA transcripts is an essential step in the expression of almost all human genes. The goal of this project is to determine the molecular, cellular and tissue-specific consequences of mutations in the U4atac snRNA gene (RNU4ATAC) that are the cause of the rare and severe human developmental disorders microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type I (MOPD I), Roifman Syndrome (RS) and Lowry-Wood Syndrome (LWS). U4atac snRNA is required for the splicing of minor class U12- dependent introns. Genes containing these introns are poorly spliced in MOPD I and RS patient cells. We hypothesize that the various pathologies seen in MOPD I, RS and LWS are caused by reduced splicing or mis- splicing of a small number of genes containing U12-dependent introns. In addition, we have found that the RNU4ATAC gene, as well as other snRNA genes, harbor large numbers of low frequency single nucleotide polymorphisms in all human populations, supplying a mutational origin for these recessive disorders. We have developed cell lines, including patient-derived and gene-edited human iPS cells, and new assay systems to investigate the specific defect(s) in splicing caused by the mutations. 1) We will use these cell lines to analyze the effects of all possible U4atac snRNA mutations on cell growth using a high-throughput method. Based on these results and the mutations observed in patients with the different syndromes, we will generate cell lines homozygous for various mutations and employ biochemical techniques to characterize their functional defects. 2) We will determine the differentiation potential of human iPS cells with a variety of disease-linked mutations. For example, since severe MOPD I is characterized by microcephaly and lissencephaly, we are using MOPD I patient-derived human iPS cells to generate and study cerebral brain organoids. We have also generated mouse mutant U4atac models that recapitulate many MOPD I pathologies. They also develop severe diabetes by two months of age. We will study the cellular phenotypes of the mouse pancreas as the disease develops to characterize the developmental disorder. 3) We will use RNA-seq and other molecular analyses of human cells and mouse tissues to relate specific pathologies to defects in splicing of target genes. These targets will be validated through restoration of gene expression by properly spliced cDNA. Successful completion of these studies will advance our understanding of spliceosomal splicing, define the molecular causes of human diseases and determine the role of U12-dependent splicing in gene expression and development.
Our plan to develop and use new biochemical, cellular and in vivo assays and models to investigate functional causes and consequences of aberrant pre-mRNA splicing will greatly improve understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of resulting diseases. Resulting new knowledge about how particular mutations in RNU4ATAC can cause tissue-specific mis-splicing will shed new light on the pathogenesis of tissue-specific developmental phenotypes in human patients. Thus, this project is very likely to improve human health by increasing our understanding of the impacts of aberrant pre-mRNA splicing in human biology and diseases.
