Lineage-specific regulation and RNA-associated functions of SATB1 in mature B-cells

Special AT-rich binding protein 1 (SATB1) is a nuclear matrix-associated transcription factor that orchestrates higher-order chromatin architecture and gene expression in T and B lymphocytes. While SATB1’s role in T cells is well-established, its regulation and function in B cells remain underexplored. Here, we showed that Satb1 expression in mature B cells is controlled by alternative promoter usage and splicing, with promoters P1 and P3 dynamically switching upon LPS-induced activation, while P2 remains transcriptionally silent. We identified four Satb1 mRNA isoforms, including two novel transcripts ( Δ9 and Δ9Δ11 ), all of which maintain open reading frames. Satb1 transcription decreases upon activation while SATB1 protein content evolves differently, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation. SATB1 forms a high-molecular-weight complex in B cells, and co-immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry reveals RNA-binding proteins as its predominant interactors. These findings specify SATB1 expression kinetics during B-cell activation and reveal its role as a regulator of RNA splicing in B cells.