RNA-Seq analysis in mutant zebrafish reveals role of U1C protein in alternative splicing regulation

Precise 5' splice site recognition is essential for both constitutive and regulated pre-mRNA splicing. The U1 snRNP specific protein U1C is involved in this first step of spliceosome assembly and important for stabilizing early splicing complexes. We used an embryonically lethal U1C knockout mutant zebrafish, hi1371, to investigate the potential genomewide role of U1C for splicing regulation. Surprisingly, genomewide RNA-Seq analysis of mutant versus wildtype embryos revealed a large set of specific target genes that changed their alternative splicing patterns in the absence of U1C. In sum, our findings provide evidence for a new role of a general snRNP protein, U1C, as a mediator of alternative splicing regulation.