Development of a Single Vector System that Enhances Trans-Splicing of SMN2 Transcripts

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003468

PLoS ONE. 2008; 3(10): e3468.

Published online 2008 October 22. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003468

PMCID: PMC2565107

Copyright Coady et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Development of a Single Vector System that Enhances Trans-Splicing of SMN2 Transcripts

Tristan H. Coady,¹ Travis D. Baughan,² Monir Shababi,¹ Marco A. Passini,³ and Christian L. Lorson^1,²^*

¹Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America

²Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America

³Neuroscience, Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, Massachusetts, United States of America

Juan Valcarcel, Editor

Centre de Regulació Genòmica, Spain

* E-mail: lorsonc/at/missouri.edu

Conceived and designed the experiments: THC CLL. Performed the experiments: THC MS. Analyzed the data: CLL. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: THC TDB. Wrote the paper: THC CLL. Training for animal injection experiments: MAP.

Received June 24, 2008; Accepted September 20, 2008.

This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Abstract

RNA modalities are developing as a powerful means to re-direct pathogenic pre-mRNA splicing events. Improving the efficiency of these molecules in vivo is critical as they move towards clinical applications. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by loss of SMN1. A nearly identical copy gene called SMN2 produces low levels of functional protein due to alternative splicing. We previously reported a trans-splicing RNA (tsRNA) that re-directed SMN2 splicing. Now we show that reducing the competition between endogenous splices sites enhanced the efficiency of trans-splicing. A single vector system was developed that expressed the SMN tsRNA and a splice-site blocking antisense (ASO-tsRNA). The ASO-tsRNA vector significantly elevated SMN levels in primary SMA patient fibroblasts, within the central nervous system of SMA mice and increased SMN-dependent in vitro snRNP assembly. These results demonstrate that the ASO-tsRNA strategy provides insight into the trans-splicing mechanism and a means of significantly enhancing trans-splicing activity in vivo.

Introduction

Trans-splicing has recently been envisioned as a potential therapeutic intervention for a variety of genetic diseases. The potential effectiveness of this strategy has been demonstrated in a variety of diseases including spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis, hyper-IgM X-linked immunodeficiency, hemophilia A, Alzheimer's disease, and epidermolysis bullosa simplex with muscular dystrophy [1]–[6]. Trans-splicing is a natural, albeit infrequently utilized process in mammals, therefore, maximizing efficiency is central to developing trans-splicing therapeutics [7]. Conceptually, this strategy relies upon nuclear pre-mRNA splicing occurring between two different molecules: 1) the mutant endogenous RNA and 2) the exogenous therapeutic RNA that provides the correct RNA sequence via a trans-splicing event.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a neurodegenerative disorder, is caused by the homozygous loss of survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) and is the leading genetic cause of infantile death [8], [9]. In humans two copies of the SMN gene exist, SMN1 and SMN2 [10]. The critical distinction between the two genes occurs at the RNA processing level: SMN1 produces full-length transcripts, while SMN2 primarily produces an alternatively spliced transcript lacking the final coding exon [10]. A single silent C to T non-polymorphic nucleotide difference is responsible for disrupting a critical splice enhancer element in SMN2 exon 7 [11], [12].

SMN2 is retained in essentially all SMA patients and is a primary target for SMA therapeutic development [13]. In addition to the identification and development of small molecules that stimulate full-length SMN2 expression, RNA modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), TOES/bifunctional RNAs and trans-splicing RNAs have shown promise in SMA cell-based models [14]–[20]. ASOs have also been shown to modulate SMN2 expression in vivo in an unaffected transgenic mouse expressing the human SMN2 gene [18].

In this report, we demonstrate that trans-splicing efficiency is enhanced by competitively disabling a downstream splice site. As a means to develop a tractable molecular modality, a series of antisense RNAs were screened to identify a sequence that would disable SMN exon 8 and promote trans-splicing. In vitro assays identified an enhancing antisense RNA and were constructed into a novel single vector system individually expressing the trans-splicing RNA and the antisense RNA. Cell-based assays identified a highly efficient vector system that resulted in high levels of trans-splicing and correspondingly high SMN protein levels and increased SMN activity in SMA-derived extracts as measured by snRNP assembly assays. Intracerebroventricular delivery of the ASO-tsRNA vector in the SMA mouse model increases SMN protein in the central nervous system of affected animals, demonstrating a platform that can significantly elevate SMN levels in vivo and in a relevant disease context.

Results

Competitive inhibition of downstream splice site enhances SMN trans-splicing

The key to introducing trans-splicing in vivo and in clinical settings is by developing efficient trans-splicing systems. We have previously described a SMN trans-splicing system that significantly elevated full-length SMN protein levels in SMA patient fibroblasts [15]. However, initial in vivo experiments failed to achieve similar levels of activation (data not shown). Therefore, we initially examined SMN2 trans-splicing with the goal of devising strategies to enhance trans-splicing efficiency in vivo.

In SMN2 trans-splicing, there are three potential splicing outcomes: full length (FL), truncated (Δ7) and trans-spliced mRNA (TRANS*) (Figure 1A). Since pre-mRNA splicing is a highly dynamic process, we hypothesized that competition exists between the trans-splicing event and the naturally strong SMN2 exon 8 splice site. Thus, competitive inhibition of the exon 8 splice site would enhance trans-splicing efficiency. To address this possibility, two complementary experiments were performed. A previously described slow-polymerase encoding plasmid was co-transfected with the SMN2 mini-gene and the plasmid expressing the SMN trans-splicing RNA [21]. Under these experimental conditions, the exon 8 3′ splice site approximately two kb downstream from exon 7, should not be synthesized as quickly as the natural polymerase, therefore, potentially favoring the trans-splicing event. Consistent with the hypothesis, in the presence of the slow transcribing polymerase, trans-splicing was substantially increased over the typical level of trans-splicing previously observed (Figure 1B). Additionally, a SMN2 mini-gene was used in a separate experiment in which the intervening intron between SMN2 exons 7 and 8 was deleted. In the absence of an intact acceptor site at the intron 7/exon 8 junction, SMN trans-splicing was again elevated several fold over the standard SMN2 mini-gene (Figure 1C). Collectively, these results demonstrate that competitively disabling the downstream splice site can lead to enhanced trans-splicing efficiency, either through a biochemical means or by a genetic alteration.

Figure 1

Development of a single plasmid vector enhances SMN based trans-splicing.

Identification of anti-sense RNA that enhances SMN trans-splicing

The previous experiments provided the impetus to identify a more tractable molecular mechanism to enhance SMN trans-splicing, such as antisense molecules. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) have proven to be an effective molecular means to modulate pre-mRNA splicing, primarily by inhibiting splice site selection. A panel of plasmids expressing short 18–22 nt ASOs complementary to the intron 7/exon 8 splice site were constructed and used to determine whether any of the SMN antisense RNAs could enhance trans-splicing. (Supplemental Figure S1A, S1B, see Methods) The ASO-expressing plasmids were co-transfected into HeLa cells with the SMN2 mini-gene and the pM13 which expresses the SMN trans-splicing RNA. A single lead candidate was identified that significantly elevated trans-splicing levels: ASO pIn7¹¹. ASO In7¹¹ overlaps the intron 7/exon 8 boundary (Figure 2A). Other ASO did not increase trans-splicing from the SMN2 mini-gene, or in some instances, even inhibited trans-splicing (Figure 2B, 2C). These results confirm the genetic experiments that ASO inhibition of a downstream splice site can significantly enhance trans-splicing efficiency in a mini-gene context.

Figure 2

ASO mediated inhibition of downstream splicing increases SMN2 trans-splicing.

To determine whether ASO-enhanced trans-splicing occurred in a more complex context of endogenous SMN gene expression, pIn7¹¹ and pM13 was co-transfected into HeLa cells to examine trans-splicing with endogenous SMN transcripts. HeLa cells express SMN1 and SMN2 genes and provide a robust level of target RNA. Consistent with the mini-gene analysis, endogenously derived trans-spliced SMN increased in a dose dependant manner with increasing amounts of pIn7¹¹ (Figure 3A). To examine trans-splicing in a more disease-specific context, similar co-transfections were performed in primary SMA patient fibroblasts, 3813 cells. The cells are derived from a severe Type I SMA patient and lack endogenous SMN1, and consequently contain very low levels of SMN-enriched nuclear structures called gems and express very low levels of full-length SMN protein. Extracts generated from 3813 cells co-transfected with pM13 and increasing concentrations of ASO pIn7¹¹ were analyzed for SMN levels using a SMN monoclonal antibody. Western blots demonstrated an ASO dose-dependent protein induction greater than control-treated 3813 cells as well as pIn7¹¹ alone treated cells (Figure 3B). SMN levels in the co-transfected cells were comparable to SMN levels detected in the unaffected control fibroblasts, 3814 cells. These results demonstrate that endogenous SMN transcripts can be re-directed by trans-splicing and that SMN levels can be significantly increased by the ASO/trans-splicing strategy in a relevant disease context.

Figure 3

Endogenous enhancement of trans-splicing utilizing combined delivery of ASO and tsRNA.

Development of a single vector for anti-sense and trans-splicing RNA delivery

In envisioning a therapeutic application, a dual vector strategy is likely to reduce the efficiency of trans-splicing. Therefore, a single vector was constructed that was combined the molecular constituents of pM13 and pIn7¹¹ by subcloning the SMN trans-splicing cassette into the pIn7¹¹ plasmid backbone. This single vector platform allows for the production of two individual RNAs that target distinct aspects of SMN pre-mRNA, leading to enhanced full-length SMN expression (Figure 1A). The ASO-tsRNA plasmid (pMU3) produces three gene products, the Pol II-derived tsRNA^M13, the Pol III-derived ASO In7¹¹, and the Pol II-derived eGFP. Consistent with the co-transfections, the single pMU3 vector resulted in high levels of SMN trans-splicing between endogenous HeLa cell SMN transcripts. SMN levels were elevated nearly three fold compared to the pM13 vector and a pMU3 vector that lacks the promoter that drives the In7¹¹ RNA (pMU3^KO) (Figure 4A). The pMU3 vector was also capable of re-directing endogenous SMN pre-mRNA splicing in primary SMA fibroblasts, resulting in approximately a three-fold increase over pM13 levels of trans-splicing and a comparable increase in steady state levels of SMN protein (Figure 4B).

Figure 4

Development of a single plasmid ASO-tsRNA system (pMU3) enhances endogenous SMN trans-splicing.

Trans-splicing restores SMN-dependent major and minor snRNP assembly

To monitor the functionality of the SMN protein produced downstream of the trans-splicing event, SMN protein function was measured by in vitro snRNP assembly assays. The best described activity for SMN is a role in UsnRNP assembly [22]. Using SMN-deficient extracts from 3813 cells that normally support very low levels of snRNP assembly, extracts were generated from cells transfected with salmon sperm DNA, pM13, pIn7¹¹, or pMU3. Extracts derived from pMU3 transfected cells exhibited a two to four-fold increase compared to untreated extracts, demonstrating that the trans-splicing event not only generates higher levels of protein, but that SMN protein produced through this pathway is functional in a critical cellular process ascribed to native SMN (Figure 5A, 5B). These assays examined the ability of SMN to form snRNP on a U1 snRNA, which is part of the major spliceosomal pathway, however, SMN has also recently been shown to be involved in snRNP biogenesis of the minor spliceosome pathway, including the U11^ATACsnRNA [23]. To determine if this critical function was also restored in trans-splicing treated cell extracts, similar in vitro assembly assays were performed using a U11^ATACsnRNA (Figure 5C). Consistent with the U1 results, pMU3 treated extracts were able to significantly elevate functional SMN levels as measured by U11^ATACsnRNP assembly. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the pMU3 system results in high levels of functional SMN protein that is capable of performing UsnRNP biogenesis of the major and minor spliceosomal pathways to levels comparable to unaffected cells.

Figure 5

Single vector dosages with enhanced trans-splicing produces functional SMN protein in patient fibroblasts.

A frequently examined biomarker for SMN is a sub-cellular structure called gems. Gems are nuclear foci enriched in SMN and several SMA binding partners. Gems have proven a valuable tool to monitor the efficiency of SMN induction from a variety of therapeutic molecules, ranging from drugs to viral vectors. To determine whether pMU3 increased SMN gems, fibroblasts transfected with pMU3 plus a panel of negative controls were examined by indirect immunofluorescence. Transfected cells were readily detected due to the GFP expression from the plasmid backbone. In GFP-positive 3813 cells, pMU3 treated gems levels were significantly increased, resulting in nearly 60 gems per 100 nuclei and with approximately 30–40% of transfected cells expressing at least one to two gems (Figure 6A, 6B). Negative controls for fibroblast transfection and cellular reaction included plasmids lacking a viable tsRNA promoter sequence and empty pMU2 plasmid demonstrated therapeutically irrelevant increases in gem numbers (Figure 6A). Therefore we concluded that the ASO-tsRNA technology achieves the greatest biological impact relative to previous SMN2 exon 7 trans-splicing theories in these well-characterized in vitro assays.

Figure 6

pMU3 transfected SMA primary fibroblasts display increased gem numbers.

pMU3-mediated trans-splicing increases SMN protein in SMA mice

To determine whether the cell-based analysis of pMU3 translated into comparable results in vivo, SMN proteins were examined in a previously described mouse model of SMA, referred to as SMNΔ7 [24]. The SMA murine model expresses the genomic human SMN2 gene and the human SMNΔ7 cDNA. SMA neonatal mice were injected into both cerebral lateral ventricles with pMU3 or pM13 at 1.14×10¹² plasmid copies using 25 kDa linear PEI and glucose. Negative control injections contained glucose, saline, and 25 kDa linear PEI to control for procedure and cytotoxicity. After 24 hours the spinal cord was dissected and used to generate total RNA and protein extracts. Utilizing trans-splicing specific RT-PCR primers we identified a positive trans-SMN mRNA product in the spinal cord (Figure 7A). Northern and southern blotting using a GFP-specific probe demonstrated that similar levels of plasmid were present in each of the treated SMA mice (lower panel Figure 7A, and data not shown, respectively). Western blots of disassociated whole spinal cord extracts from five individual pMU3-treated SMA pups were examined and shown to contain significantly elevated levels of SMN protein. pMU3-induced levels of SMN were significantly higher than untreated SMA mice and were comparable to SMN levels detected in homogenates from unaffected heterozygotes (Figure 7B). In contrast, the parental vector that lacked the ASO, pM13, did not result in significant levels of SMN induction (Figure 7C, 7D). Similarly, the ASO-alone vector failed to induce SMN levels in vivo (data not shown). Taken together, these results demonstrate that the pMU3 vector strategy that encodes two separate RNAs significantly increases SMN trans-splicing and provides the first demonstration of SMN trans-splicing in vivo.

Figure 7

Intracerebroventricular 25 kDa PEI pMU3 transfections in SMA model mice increases SMN protein in the spinal cord.

Discussion

This is the first demonstration of a technique designed to enhance trans-splicing efficiency by blocking downstream splice site selection. While the initial trans-splicing RNA alone showed considerable activity in cell-based models of SMA in terms of significantly increasing SMN levels and increasing snRNP activity [15], these results did not translate to the in vivo context. Our research highlights a key finding that low dose trans-splicing is enhanced by the co-expression of the ASO and resulted in detectable levels of SMN expression in vivo.

As a therapeutic approach, trans-splicing offers the advantage over gene replacement in that expression is intrinsically controlled by the endogenous promoter [7]. Consequently, temporal and spatial constraints on gene expression are retained. As SMN expression has previously been shown to be significantly down-regulated from embryogenesis to adulthood, this additional restraint may prove beneficial for long-term exposure to a SMN trans-splicing vector. Avenues of research directed to the reduction of tsRNA vector dosage would consequently inhibit the negative effects of off-target trans-splicing over greater amounts of time.

The genetic context of SMA represents an intriguing target for a number of therapeutic strategies, including trans-splicing. In the SMN2 gene, the intrinsic quality of the exon 7 splice acceptor site is reduced due to the C/T transition. Therefore, the competition between SMN2 cis-splicing and trans-splicing is likely reduced, providing a potential advantage to trans-splicing in the SMN context compared to other alternatively regulated exons that retain fully functional splice sites. We propose trans-splicing is further enhanced relative to cis-splicing with the introduction of an inhibitory ASO. Since the tsRNA annealing domain hybridizes over the target exon, it is logical that this may promote exon 7 skipping. Therefore, the addition of the anti-sense likely blocks this escape pathway and further promotes trans-splicing. Unlike many ASOs that modify splicing, the ASOs used in this context are native RNA structures, not oligonucleotides with modified backbones. Therefore, the affects may be difficult to observe at steady-state levels when used as an ASO alone. However, given that this sequence overlaps the intron 7/exon 8 boundary, it was not surprising that the ASO recapitulated the increase in trans-splicing observed with the slow polymerase and intron 7-deleted construct.

In general, the field of trans-splicing therapeutics can benefit from the discovery of combined ASO-tiling and tsRNAs. ASO-tiling increases the potential of tsRNA by modulating cis-splicing signals within the target transcript. Additionally, in a novel application of ASO-In4¹¹ and tsRNA^EX4 co-delivery targeting a upstream SMN intron 3 exon 4 splicing context produced enhancement of basal trans-splicing. (Supplemental Figure S2) Studies here demonstrate the limitations of dual vector delivery in difficult fibroblast transfection conditions. Co-transfection dynamics hinder the potential of ASO/tsRNA pre-mRNA redirection and can be circumvented by sub-cloning of the single vector pMU3. The combination of ASO-tsRNA mechanism and a novel single vector platform produces a potent enhancement of basal trans-splicing. In the case of trans-splicing RNAs designs such as, 5′ or 3′ versions would require examination of beneficial upstream and downstream sequences to tile with ASO RNA.

The in vivo results demonstrate ASO-tsRNA represents a tractable therapeutic yet highlight the transient nature of plasmid transfections. The use of AAV vectors for the delivery of gene therapies would provide a substantial longevity to ASO-tsRNA expression and thus SMN2 redirection. Future studies could examine the role of expression of the virus vectors and the SMA CNS. We conclude the combined effects of ASO-tsRNAs in a novel expression vector enhanced trans-splicing in the context of SMN2 alternative cis-splicing. Applications of this biotechnology on a well characterized SMA model mouse demonstrate the promise of in vivo restoration of SMN via trans-splicing RNAs.

Materials and Methods

Plasmids and cloning

The pMU2-tsRNA^M13 clone reported previously is now written as pM13 [15]. The SMN1 and SMN2 mini-genes (pSMN1, pSMN2) have been previously described [12]. Mini-gene pSMN2^ΔIn7 was created by using overlapping PCR primers which anneal the 5′ splice donor of exon 7 to the 3′ splice acceptor of exon 8. SMN In7 DEL FWD (5′- TCCTTAAATTAAGGAGAAATGCTGGCATAGAGC-3′) This PCR product was then gel purified and cloned into the pCI minigene using 5′-NheI and NotI-3′. The plasmid pAT7-Rpb1- (N792D) (R749H) expresses the mutant RNA polymerase [21]. The Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASO) was cloned into the previously reported pMU2 plasmid context driven by a U6 promoter [14]. Sequences were chosen with intron 6 dentoted as In6^X (with X indicated the sequential number) and intron 7 as In7^X. Listed below are the binding domains for the ASO as read 5′ to 3′ in the SMN pre-mRNA [SMN EXON 6]5′- (In6¹-5′-uucugaucauauuuuguugaauaaa-3′) (In6²-5′uuuguugaauaaaauaaguaaaaug) (In6³-5′auaaguaaaaugucuugugaaacaaa) (In6⁴-5′gucuugugaaacaaaaugcuuuuuaa) (In6⁵-5′aaugcuuuuuaacauccauauaaag) -3′[SMN EXON7]5′- (In7¹-5′auaugggaauaaccuaggcauacugca) (In7²-5′cuaggcauacugcacuguacacucug) (In7³-5′cacuguacacucugacauaugaagug) (In7⁴-5′acauaugaagugcucuagucaa) (In7⁵-5′gcucuagucaaguuuaacuggugucca) (In7⁶-5′uuuaacugguguccacagaggacau) (In7⁷-5′acagaggacaugguuuaacugga) (In7⁸-5′gguuuaacuggaauucgucaagcc) (In7⁹-5′ggaauucgucaagccucugguucuaauuu) (In7¹⁰-5′ugguucuaauuucucauuugcagG) (In7¹¹-5′ucucauuugcagGAAAUGCUGGCAUA) -3′[SMN EXON8] (In⁷¹²-5′AAUGCUGGCAUAGAGCAGCACUAAA) (In7¹³-5′AUGACACCACUAAAGAAACGAUCA) (In7¹⁴-5′AAGAAACGAUCAGACAGAUCUGGAA) The pMU3 construct produces three gene products, tsRNA, eGFP protein and ASOs. ASO-In7¹¹ was subcloned by PCR Platinum Pfx DNA Polymerase (Invitrogen) amplification according to the manufacture instructions of the U6 promoter and the antisense RNA and cloned by flanking restriction sites 5′-BlpI and AsiSI-3′(NEB). pMU3^KO is a substitution of the In7¹¹ anti-sense RNA with a random sequence of RNA created by overlapping PCR and cloned using the same restrictions sites above. The pMU2-tsRNA^EX4 intron 3 binding domain was amplified from HeLa genomic DNA using primers (Int3 Rev 5′- ATCAAGCTTGAGCTCAAAAAGAAAAAATATGCAGGTTTT-3′) and (Int3 Fw 5′-ATCACCGCGGTTCAATTTCTGGAAGCAGAGACTA-3′) and cloned into HindIII-SacII of pcDNA3/PTM2 replacing Int6 binding domain. Exons 4–7 were amplified from SMN1 cDNA clone using primers (Ex4 Fw 5′-TCAGATATCCTGCAGAGAATGAAAATGAAAGCCAAGTTT-3′) and (Ex7 Rev 5′- CATTCTCGAGGGGCCCGTCATAGCTGTTTCCTGCGACTCCTTAATTTAAGGAATGTGAGCA-3′) and cloned into EcoRV and XhoI sites of pMU2. The In4¹¹ antisense fragment was amplified from pMU3 construct using BsrGI In7¹¹ (Fwd 5′-AGCTGTACAAGTAAAGCGGCCGCGACTCTAGATC-3′) and MluI In4¹¹ (Rev 5′- GTAACGCGTAAAAAATTCCTTATAGCCAGGTCTAAAATGGATCCGAAGACCACAAACAAG-3′) and was cloned to make pMU2-In4¹¹, the antisense fragment into the BsrGI-MluI sites of pMU2 vector. Ligations were carried out using 10–15 units of T4 DNA Ligase (NEB) at 15°C for 24 hours and transformed in Subcloning Max Efficency DH5α. (Invitrogen) Sequencing of gel purified trans-splicing SMN M13 positive cDNAs produced from in vivo murine RT-PCR was performed using 1.5 ng of hSMN Exon 6 Forward primer and on a ABI 3730 DNA Analyzer and Applied Biosystems Big Dye Terminator system and read by Chromat Freeware.

In vitro Transfections

The transfections were performed using linear PEI (Polysciences, Inc.) to pH 8.3 with 20 µL adjustments of HCl or NaOH. Stock linear 250 kDa PEI for HeLa in vitro transfections were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and thawed 5 times at 37°C. Triple transfections in HeLas required “mean-low molecular weight PEI,” stock PEI was sonicated on ice at 30% total power for 30 seconds three times. Plasmids were transfected into HeLa or HEK293 cells (Coriell Cell Repositories) grown to 80% confluence before transfection. Plasmids were diluted in a 150 mM NaCl solution before adding filtered linear 7.5 mM 250 kDa PEI. Cells were incubated with plasmid overnight and replenished with fresh Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Media High Glucose 1× DMEM⁺ (D-glucose 4.5 g/L, +L-glutamine, 1% penicillin/streptomycin 10 000 units/mL, 3% fetal bovine serum-endotoxin free) and harvested 48 hours post-transfection. Controls include salmon sperm DNA (ssDNA) (Invitrogen) and normalized across co-transfection samples to greatest treatment plasmid DNA micrograms. SMA patient fibroblasts (GM3813) were transfected with Lipofectamine™2000 with LiCl (5M) centrifuge purified plasmid in serum free DMEM⁻ for 4 hours then washed via media and replaced with DMEM⁺ for 2 hours. Finally complete media DMEM⁺ was added back for the remaining incubation. Cells were harvested 24 hours later in PBS (137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 10 mM Na₂HPO₄, 2 mM KH₂PO₄) pH 7.5–8.0. ASO-tsRNA co-transfections used ssDNA to control for total volume of DNA. Post-transfection harvested cells were counted on a hemocytometer and use Trypan blue dye exclusion to determine viable cell counts per microliter.

RT-PCR

48 hours post transfection or transduction, total RNA was harvested from cells using TRIzol Reagent (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's instruction. Total RNA concentration determined via Nano-drop OD260 and normalized before cDNA synthesis. RT-PCR was performed as previously described [14]. The trans-splicing product was amplified using a reverse primer M13 (5′-GTCATAGCTGTTTCCTGCGAC-3′) 5′ Cy3 labeled (564 nm emission max) (Intergrated DNA Technologies, Inc.) and a mini-gene specific primer, pCI-Fwd [12]. The SMN1 and 2 mini-gene transcripts were amplified using pCI-Fwd#1 and pCI-Rev [12]. The primers used in endogenous PCR amplifications were an SMN Exon 6 -Forward (5′-CCCCCACCACCTCCCATATGT-3′) and SMN Exon 8-Reverse (5′-AGTGGTGTCATTTAGTGCTGC-3′). The endogenous pMU2-tsRNA^EX4 mediated trans-SMN product was amplified using primer Exon 3⁺¹²⁶ (Fwd 5′-GAGAGGAGCAAAATCTGTCCGATCTAC-3′) and M13 Rev. The endogenous trans-spliced product is amplified by SMN Exon 6 (+7) Forward and M13 Reverse. Negative RT polymerase controls were included in protocol but omitted from final figures. Semi-quantitative determinations via Cy3 labeled trans-splicing products were imaged using laser Fuji-Imager FLA5000 at 550 nm excitation range. RT-PCRs were repeated in triplicate to confirm 2-tail t-test statistical significance of the increase in trans-SMN mRNA. To normalize within experiments, trans-SMN induction is determined as (trans-SMN:GAPDH) and between experiments levels were normalized to basal pM13 trans-splicing values (set to 1). SMN trans-splicing was measured using fold change over pM13 set to 1 as expressions of trans-splicing efficiency.

Immunofluorescence microscopy

SMA patient fibroblasts (Coriell Cell Repositories, 3813 cells) harvested at sub-confluent levels were plated for transfections on UV irradiated glass coverslips. Prior to harvest, samples were washed twice in PBS pH 7.5. Fixation of cells was performed using cold acetone/methanol (50 [ratio]

50) [14]. 1% BSA was used as a blocking medium for 1 hour then the samples were washed in PBS pH 7.0. Primary antibody 4B7 mouse anti-SMN was diluted 1 [ratio]

500 in PBS. Secondary antibody (goat anti-mouse Texas Red-594: Jackson Immuno-Research Laboratories) were used according to manufacturer's instructions. Cells were washed with PBS and nuclei stained with DAPI [25]. Microscope images were captured on Nikon Eclipse E1000 using Meta-Morph software. Control exposures determining levels of background for the secondary in the absence of primary antibody set basal limits for SMN detection. These controls are performed during each experimental round to control for intra-assay perturbations.

Western blot

HeLa cell pellets were prepared in RSB100 lysis buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4 100 mM NaCl, 25 mM MgCl₂, Triton ×100 0.5%) and centrifuged at 10,000 g for 5 min at 4°C. Samples were sonicated and boiled in loading dye then resolved in a 10% SDS-PAGE 20 cm×10 cm BioRad Protean xi Glass plates using Protean 2000. Resolved proteins were then transferred to PVDF (Immoblion) at 200 mAmps for 400 minutes in Towbins (24 mM Tris base, 192 mM glycine, 20% methanol (v/v)). Western blots were blocked overnight in 5% Casein and Tris-buffered Saline (TBS^T) (90 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM KCl, 547 mM NaCl, 2% Tween (v/v) (Acros)) pH 7.5. Primary patient fibroblast western blots were probed with 1 [ratio]

100 dilution of mouse anti-SMN monoclonal antibody, 4B7 [25], and visualized with a HRP-conjugated secondary mouse antibody. Murine western blots were probed with 1 [ratio]

1000 dilution of mouse anti-SMN (BD Biosciences) and were produced using 1 [ratio]

1 mixture of Peirce West Pico reagent. Cross reaction with endogenous mouse heavy and light chain antibody Mouse TrueBlot™ ULTRA HRP anti-mouse IgG (eBioscience) was used at 1 [ratio]

10 000 in 5% skim milk. Images were captured and quantitated using a Fuji Imager LAS 3000 at 75% of total resolution 10–30 second exposure and Multi-Gauge V2.3 system. To control for loading error the westerns were then stripped using H₂O₂ for 15–20 minutes at room temperature and re-probed with anti-β-actin rabbit and anti-rabbit HRP. Western blots were repeated in quadruplicate to confirm 2-tail t-test statistical significance of the increase in SMN protein. To normalize within experiments, SMN induction is determined as (SMN:β-actin) and between experiments SMN levels is normalized to GM3813 values (triplicate mean set to 1). SMN protein induction was measured using pIn7¹¹ ASO as baseline, and fold change over pM13 alone (triplicate mean set to 1) as expressions of trans-splicing efficiency.

In vitro snRNP assembly reactions

Cloned U1 snRNA (ΔSm) cDNA has the Smith core site (5′-AUUUGUGG-3′) sequence deleted to inhibit non-specific products [26]. The U1 snRNA (WT and ΔSm) was in vitro transcribed using the Maxi-prep (Invitrogen) plasmid pT7 cleaved with EcoRI for 3 hours and cleaned up with PCR columns (Invitrogen). U11^ATAC snRNA was synthesized with mature post-transcriptional modification sequences and cloned into pGA4 (GENEART) flanked by T7 sequences. Transcriptionally competent snRNA^ATAC templates were created with primers and high fidelity PCR amplification (Roche). U11FWD #1 (5′-GATCGATCTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGAGAATTCAAAAAGGCTTCTGTCGTGAG-3′) U11REV #1 (GATCGATCGGATCTAAATCCACTGTGATATCTTCTCAAAGGGCGCCGGGACCAA-3′) The T7-U11^ATAC PCR product was PCR purified and used in subsequent transcription reactions as a template. snRNA transcription reactions: 10 units of T7 RNA polymerase HC (Ambion), ARCA-Methyl cap (Ambion) and rNTPs supplemented with P³² labeled rUTP was incubated for 30 minutes at 30°C. Cells were harvested and lysed in on ice via fresh Reconstitution Buffer (20 mM Hepes-KOH pH 7.9, 50 mM KCl, 5 mM MgCl2, 0.2 mM EDTA, 0.01% Triton ×100). Cytoplasmic and nuclear fractioning was accomplished by centrifugation at 1000 rpm for 15 minutes at 4°C. The S100 fraction was removed and (7×) EDTA free protease inhibitor cocktail (Roche) added to preserve the SMN complex. Assembly of the Sm cores occurred for 30 minutes at 30°C using 20U of RNAsin (Promega) added to 50 µg total of S100 extract at final concentration of 2.5 mM ATP, 1.0 µg Yeast tRNA, U1 snRNA (100,000 cpm). For the general assembly in the U11^ATACsnRNA 75 µg total extract was required for 60 minutes at 30°C. Following assembly, 350 uL of DEPC-RSB²⁰⁰ buffer was used in the initial immunoprecipation (IP) steps via primary bead fractions Protein G Plus/Protein A Agarose suspension with PBS (Oncogene) pre-blocked with 25 µg of whole HeLa cell extracts. Bead fractions are pre-incubated with 1 uL anti-Mouse Y12 mono-clonal antibody (Lab Vision) per 50 µL stock slurry volume. Radio-IPs were processed at 4°C to reduce signal loss and washed at 25°C. UsnRNP and beads were denatured in (5×) formamide loading dye and run on an 8% acrylamide TBE-Urea gel (45 mM Tris-borate, 1 mM EDTA, 7M Urea). Quantitative measurements of snRNP products were derived after a 30–45 minutes exposure on a phospho-screen (Kodak). Bands were imaged using Fuji-Imager FLA5000 and Image Reader FLA5000 V2.0 software (IP^−S mode) normalized to background. The Fuji-imager results were correlated to excised bands via scintillation counter output averaged over three rounds of counts per minute. Within experiments the capacity to assemble snRNPs is determined by the ratio of U1^WT [ratio]

U1^KO. Between experiments, comparisons were determined by normalization to GM3813 values (set to 1) and above the assembly baseline of ASO pIn7¹¹ transfections. GM3813/3814 fibroblasts were included in the experiment up to the fourth passage post cryo-preservation rescue to avoid artificial selection of SMN positive populations.

Intracerebroventricular injection of SMA mice

SMA mouse were genotyped PND 0 via tail clip. Frozen tails were prepared using a binary HOTShot method: 90°C for 10 minutes alkaline lysis solution (25 mM NaOH 0.2 mM disodium EDTA) and Trizma base neutralizing solution (40 mM Tris-HCl). 1.5–2.0 µL input tail solution was added to PCR reactions containing previously described, yet renamed for clarity, primer sets mSMN FWD (5′-GCAGCTGTGCTCGACGTTGTC-3′), mSMN REV (5′-TAAGAAAGCCTCAATGTGCTCAAG), hSMN2 FWD (5′-GCGATAGAGTGAGACTCCATCT-3′), hSMN2 REV (5′-GACATAGAGGTCTGATCTTTAGCT-3′) [27]. PND 2 neonates were immobilized via cryo-anesthesia and injected using µL calibrated sterilized glass micropipette 0.25 mm lateral to the sagittal suture and 0.50–0.75 mm rostral to the neonatal coronary suture. The needles were inserted perpendicular to the skull surface using a fiber-optic light (Boyce Scientific Inc.) to illuminate pertinent anatomical structures. Needles were removed after 15 seconds of discontinuation of plunger movement to prevent backflow. Mice recovered in 5–10 minutes in a warmed container until movement and general response was restored. Injection stock solutions contained and final volumes include: D-(+)-glucose 20% (w/v) (1 µL) (Sigma), trypan blue (0.4%) saline (1 µL) (Sigma), plasmid (≈5 µg/µL) (2 µL), 25 kDa linear PEI homopolymer (150 mM) (1 µL) (Polysciences, Inc.). In vivo plasmids prepared with endo-toxin free Maxi-prep (QIAgen) were analyzed for purity and superhelicity in 4% agarose gels and NanoDrop quantifications. Control mock in vivo transfections contain glucose, trypan blue saline, 25 kDa PEI and do not contain plasmid. In vivo western and northern blot was performed by dissecting the CNS with microsurgical technique via Roboz RS-5600 (Roboz Surgical Instrument Co., Inc.) and gross disassociation performed by passing tissue re-suspended in PBS through a 18-gauge needle and aliquot into individual tubes, then snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen. Total spinal cord RNA was collected by TRIzol (Invitrogen) and the final pellet resuspended in 30 µL of PrepSolution (40 mM PIPES pH 6.8, 1 mM EDTA, 250 mM NaCl, 80% (v/v) deionized formamide). The RNA was blotted by vacuum with BioDot SF (BioRad) seeding on 9×12 cm Zeta probe membranes (BioRad). GFP probes were created by Klenow fragment synthesis with Easytides dATP creating 10⁸ cpm/µg product used at a final concentration of 10⁶ cpm/mL in the hybridization buffer (500 mM Na2PO4 pH 7.2, 1% SDS, 1 mM EDTA). In vivo murine trans-splicing RT-PCR was performed with the previously reported “human-specific” Exon 4 35–55 forward (Hua et al. 2008) combined with the standard M13 reverse primer.

Statistical analysis

Student t-tests were utilized to gauge significance between two results via 2-tailed regression analysis. Levels of significance were set to p≤0.05 for a single treatment regiment and repeated in triplicate to determine mean and ±standard deviation values. Statistical values are represented as the inset graphs and error bars indicate ±s.d. for the averages. The data collected was normalized internally to 1 using a base line controls indicated in the above method sections. This approach is justified by the number of mice compared, involved in treatment versus mock, and relative fold change in the overall protein expression post-treatments using SMN^KO mouse mock as basal.

Supporting Information

Figure S1

Summary of SMN2 trans-splicing and intron 7 ASO-tiling screen demonstrates specificity of ASO-In711 effect. (A) Graphical depiction of intron 7 ASO targets. ASO sequences are identified at the beginning of the individual string, written 5′-3′. Capitalized sequence indicates exon 8 sequences with the 3′ splice site defined in red. The bars located directly below illustrate the effects on the trans-splicing product by the respective colors. Black lines indicate neutral effects, red lines indicate negative influences, and green lines represent increased trans-splicing. (B) Summary of even numbered intron 7 ASO screen demonstrates no effect. HeLa cells were triple-transfected with plasmids expressing pM13 1.0 µg, a minigene SMN2 (lanes a–h) 1.25 µg and ASO pIn72-pIn712 (lanes c–h) 1.0 µg and RNA harvested at 48 hrs. Reverse transcriptase PCR gel is displayed with GAPDH normalization control. pIn71 negative control serves to normalized between ASO experiments. (C) Summary of odd numbered intron 7 ASO screen identifies pIn711 ASO as a potent enhancer of trans-splicing. HeLa cells were triple-transfected with plasmids expressing pM13 1.0 µg, a minigene pSMN2 (lanes a–d) 1.25 µg and ASO pIn71-5, pIn77-11 (lanes b–d) 1.0 µg for blots respectively and RNA harvested at 48 hrs. Reverse transcriptase PCR gel is displayed with GAPDH normalization control. pM13 controls for basal trans-splicing. (D) HeLa cells were triple-transfected with plasmids expressing a minigene SMN2 (lanes a–d) 1.25 µg, pM13 (lanes b–e) 1.0 µg, a negative control scrambled ASO-tsRNA vector pMU3KO (lane a) 1.0 µg and ASO-tsRNA DNA recombination control transfection with pM13 and pIn711 (lane e) 1.0 µg minus pSMN2. RNA harvested at 48 hrs. Reverse transcriptase PCR gel is displayed with GAPDH normalization control. pM13 controls for basal trans-splicing (lane c).

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Figure S2

The ASO-tsRNA mechanism can be applied to heterologous contexts. SMA patient fibroblasts co-transfected with a trans-splicing RNA that targets SMN intron 3 containing SMN exons 4–7 written as “pMU2-tsRNAEX4” (lanes b–f) (0.25 µg) with increasing concentrations of enhancing ASO directed toward the intron 4/exon 5 splice site “pMU2-In411” (c–f) (0.25 µg, 0.50 µg, 0.75 µg, 1.0 µg) produced increased trans-splicing. Reverse transcriptase PCR gel is displayed with GAPDH normalization control. Lane a represents negative control omitting RT polymerase, lane b is base line trans-splicing for pMU2-tsRNAEX4.

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Footnotes

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Funding: T.H.C. is supported by Training Grant T32 GM008396. This work was funded by grants from the MDA (M.S.), FightSMA (C.L.L.) and the National Institutes of Health (C.L.L, R01 NS41584; R01 HD054413).

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