Widespread exon definition is promoted by the U1 snRNP 70K subunit and requires sites of contact with RNA Polymerase II

Much pre-mRNA splicing initiates co-transcriptionally, but its mechanism is unclear. We investigated this process by degron depletion of the U1-70K subunit of U1 snRNP that contacts transcribing RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). U1-70K deficiency caused extensive exon skipping consistent with widespread exon definition. Surprisingly, exons with the strongest 5’ splice sites (SSs) are skipped. Furthermore, strengthening of non-canonical 5’ splice sites with a complementary mutant U1 snRNA or a splice modifying drug induced exon skipping in response to U1-70K depletion. We suggest that U1-70K plays a previously unappreciated role in destabilizing the U1-5’SS interaction to facilitate the transition to the U6-5’SS interaction required for productive splicing following exon definition. Consistent with this idea, knock-down of Prp28/DDX23 that exchanges U1 for U6 at the 5’SS also promotes exon skipping mimicking U1-70K depletion. Replacing WT U1-70K in degron-containing cells with a mutant in the RNAPII interface caused widespread exon skipping. We propose that frequent exon definition occurs at the transcription elongation complex and is enabled by U1-70K contact with transcribing RNAPII.