Destruction of U2, U4, or U6 small nuclear RNA blocks trans splicing in trypanosome cells.

We have used permeable cells of Trypanosoma brucei to analyze the role of snRNAs in the trans splicing process. Degradation of U2, U4, or U6 snRNA by site-directed cleavage with complementary deoxyoligonucleotides and RNAase H inhibits trans splicing of the spliced leader (SL) RNA and newly synthesized alpha-tubulin pre-mRNAs. Cleavage of U snRNAs abolishes the appearance of putative trans splicing reaction intermediates and products, namely, linear branched molecules consisting of the SL intron joined to high molecular weight RNA (Y structures) and free SL intron. This indicates that U snRNAs are required for an early step in trans splicing. alpha-tubulin transcripts synthesized in the absence of trans splicing are unstable, suggesting that the addition of the SL sequence stabilizes pre-mRNAs against degradation. Our results provide direct evidence for the participation of U2 and U4/U6 snRNPs in trans splicing.