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Molecular and Cellular Biology, July 2005, p. 5543-5551, Vol. 25, No. 13
0270-7306/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/MCB.25.13.5543-5551.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Survival of Motor Neurons Protein Determines the Capacity for snRNP Assembly: Biochemical Deficiency in Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Lili Wan, Daniel J. Battle, Jeongsik Yong, Amelie K. Gubitz, Stephen J. Kolb, Jin Wang, and Gideon Dreyfuss*

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6148

Received 14 February 2005/ Returned for modification 23 March 2005/ Accepted 30 March 2005

Reduction of the survival of motor neurons (SMN) protein levels causes the motor neuron degenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy, the severity of which correlates with the extent of reduction in SMN. SMN, together with Gemins 2 to 7, forms a complex that functions in the assembly of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs). Complete depletion of the SMN complex from cell extracts abolishes snRNP assembly, the formation of heptameric Sm cores on snRNAs. However, what effect, if any, reduction of SMN protein levels, as occurs in spinal muscular atrophy patients, has on the capacity of cells to produce snRNPs is not known. To address this, we developed a sensitive and quantitative assay for snRNP assembly, the formation of high-salt- and heparin-resistant stable Sm cores, that is strictly dependent on the SMN complex. We show that the extent of Sm core assembly is directly proportional to the amount of SMN protein in cell extracts. Consistent with this, pulse-labeling experiments demonstrate a significant reduction in the rate of snRNP biogenesis in low-SMN cells. Furthermore, extracts of cells from spinal muscular atrophy patients have a lower capacity for snRNP assembly that corresponds directly to the reduced amount of SMN. Thus, SMN determines the capacity for snRNP biogenesis, and our findings provide evidence for a measurable deficiency in a biochemical activity in cells from patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6148. Phone: (215) 898-0398. Fax: (215) 573-2000. E-mail: gdreyfuss{at}hhmi.upenn.edu.

Molecular and Cellular Biology, July 2005, p. 5543-5551, Vol. 25, No. 13
0022-538X/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/MCB.25.13.5543-5551.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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