Both loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations in snf define a role for snRNP proteins in regulating Sex-lethal pre-mRNA splicing in Drosophila development

Abstract

The Drosophila snf gene encodes a protein with functional homology to the mammalian U1A and U2B'' snRNP proteins. Studies, based on the analysis of three viable alleles, have suggested a role for snf in establishing the female-specific splicing pattern of the sex determination switch gene, Sex- lethal. Here, we show that the non-sex-specific lethal null allele is required for female sex determination, arguing against the formal possibility that the viable alleles disrupt a function unrelated to snf's wild-type function. Moreover, we find snf is required for normal cell growth and/or survival, as expected for a protein involved in a cell-vital process such as RNA splicing. We also show that of the three viable alleles only one, snf(JA2), is a partial loss-of-function mutation. The other two viable alleles, snf1621 and snf(e8H), encode antimorphic proteins. We find the antimorphic proteins are mislocalized and correlate their mislocalization with their molecular lesions and mutant phenotypes. Finally, we provide genetic evidence that the antimorphic alleles interfere with the autoregulatory splicing function of the Sex-lethal protein. Based on these studies we suggest a model in which the snRNP protein, Snf, functions with Sex-lethal to block recognition of the regulated male-specific exon.