HuR- dependent regulation of mRNA splicing is essential for the B cell antibody response [RNA-Seq]

Post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA by the RNA binding protein HuR is required in B cells for the germinal centre reaction and for the production of class-switched antibodies in response to T-independent antigens. Transcriptome-wide examination of RNA isoforms, abundance and translation in HuR-deficient B cells, together with direct measurements of HuR-RNA interaction, revealed that HuR-dependent mRNA splicing affects hundreds of transcripts including the dihydrolipoyl succinyltransferase (Dlst), a subunit of the aketoglutaratedehydrogenase (aKGDH) enzyme. In the absence of HuR, defective mitochondrial metabolism results in high levels of reactive oxygen species and B cell death. Our study shows how post-transcriptional processes control the balance of energy metabolism required for B cell proliferation and differentiation. Overall design: Sequencing analysis of B cell transcriptome using Illumina TruSeq mRNA sample prep kit and Illumina platform. RNA was isolated from ex-vivo or LPS-activated (48h) splenic B cells from HuRflox/flox x mb1wt control or HuRflox/flox x mb1cre mice. 3-4 biological replicates per genotype and condition.