High-Resolution Binding Atlas Of U2af1 Mutants Uncovers New Complexity In Splicing Alterations And Kinetics In Myeloid Malignancies

Spliceosomal gene mutations function as drivers of hematologic malignancies and other cancers with an occurrence of more than 50% in myelodysplastic syndromes and secondary acute myeloid leukemia. Hotspot mutations S34F and Q157R in the two zinc finger domains of the splicing factor U2AF1, forming with U2AF2 the U2AF complex that recognizes 3' splice site (3'SS) of U2 introns, alter exon usage in a sequence-specific manner. However, how pathological U2AF1 mutations disrupt ordered splicing, from binding to recruitment of cooperating RNA binding proteins and ultimately splicing kinetics, is still not known at the molecular level.