Transcription elongation factor ELL2 directs immunoglobulin secretion in plasma cells by stimulating altered RNA processing

Nat Immunol. 2009 Oct;10(10):1102-9. doi: 10.1038/ni.1786. Epub 2009 Sep 13.

Abstract

Immunoglobulin secretion is modulated by competition between the use of a weak promoter-proximal poly(A) site and a nonconsensus splice site in the final secretory-specific exon of the heavy chain pre-mRNA. The RNA polymerase II transcription elongation factor ELL2, which is induced in plasma cells, enhanced both polyadenylation and exon skipping with the gene encoding the immunoglobulin heavy-chain complex (Igh) and reporter constructs. Lowering ELL2 expression by transfection of heterogenous ribonucleoprotein F (hnRNP F) or small interfering RNA resulted in lower abundance of secretory-specific forms of immunoglobulin heavy-chain mRNA. ELL2 and the polyadenylation factor CstF-64 tracked together with RNA polymerase II across the Igh mu- and gamma-gene segments; the association of both factors was blocked by ELL2-specific small interfering RNA. Thus, loading of ELL2 and CstF-64 on RNA polymerase II was linked, caused enhanced use of the proximal poly(A) site and was necessary for processing of immunoglobulin heavy-chain mRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cleavage Stimulation Factor / genetics
  • Cleavage Stimulation Factor / immunology
  • Cleavage Stimulation Factor / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Plasma Cells / immunology
  • Plasma Cells / metabolism*
  • RNA Precursors / genetics*
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / immunology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors / genetics
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors / immunology*
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors / metabolism
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Cleavage Stimulation Factor
  • Cstf2t protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • RNA Precursors
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors