Modulated splicing-associated gene expression in P19 cells expressing distinct acetylcholinesterase splice variants

J Neurochem. 2006 Apr:97 Suppl 1:24-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.03725.x.

Abstract

Alternative splicing configurations and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene expression are both modified in neurons under stress. However, it is unclear if these phenomena are functionally interrelated. Using a home-made spotted microarray focused on splicing-associated transcripts, we tested the effects of excess 3' splice variants of human AChE on splicing-related gene expression in semi-differentiated neuronal P19 cells. Of the tested transcripts, 17.3% and 20.2% showed modified expression levels (log2 of the ratio<-0.3 or>0.3) in transfected P19 cells overexpressing the stress-inducible AChE-R variant or the synaptic AChE-S protein, respectively. Multiple transcripts encoding serine-arginine rich (SR) and SR-related splicing regulators were suppressed in cells expressing either of these variants, whereas the gene groups including splicing-related helicases and transcripts involved in apoptosis displayed variant-specific changes. Our findings are compatible with the assumption that both neuronal overexpression and alternative splicing of pre-AChE mRNA may be causally involved in initiating global changes in neuronal alternative splicing, causing subsequent modifications in the expression patterns of numerous target genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / genetics*
  • Alternative Splicing / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Enzyme Precursors / genetics
  • Gene Expression / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spliceosomes / genetics
  • Transfection
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Enzyme Precursors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins
  • SRPK1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Acetylcholinesterase