Alternative splicing and structure of the human and mouse SFRS5/HRS/SRp40 genes

HRS/SRp40/SFRS5 (HRS) is an SR (serine-arginine-rich) protein which regulates both alternative splicing and basal splicing. HRS mRNA contains several transcripts, including HRS-SF and HRS-LF which have different temporal patterns of expression in proliferating liver. As previously reported, HRS-SF mRNA encodes the SR splicing factor. However, the identity of HRS-LF remained unknown. Here, we cloned and characterized the mouse HRS gene, partial human HRS gene, and several cDNAs derived from HRS-LF mRNA. The mouse HRS gene spans 5050 bp and contains eight exons and seven introns. HRS-LF mRNA contains a 1.2 kb insert within the SF mRNA with stop codons in all three reading frames. A comparison of HRS-LF and the HRS gene revealed that HRS-LF mRNA is an intron-retaining product which contains intron 5. At most, HRS-LF encodes a truncated HRS protein with one RNA binding domain. Interestingly, intron 5 demonstrates 90% identity between the mouse and human HRS genes, implying that intron 5 might play an important role in regulating HRS gene splicing or expression.