In vivo binding by Arabidopsis SPLICING FACTOR 1 shifts 3' splice site choice, regulating circadian rhythms and immunity in plants

Abstract

Alternative splicing expands proteome diversity and enables phenotypic plasticity across eukaryotes. In plants, mutations in spliceosomal components impair development and stress responses, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we define the molecular function of SPLICING FACTOR1 (AtSF1) in Arabidopsis thaliana using individual-nucleotide resolution UV crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (iCLIP) combined with RNA sequencing of sf1 mutants. We identify the in vivo branch point sequences bound by AtSF1 and delineate its RNA-binding landscape, revealing pervasive splicing defects dominated by aberrant 3' splice site selection. Structural comparison with human SF1 indicates that AtSF1 retains branch point recognition capacity but features a distinct domain organization, including a restructured C-terminal region absent in metazoans, suggesting a divergent RNA-binding mode that evolved to meet plant-specific splicing demands. AtSF1 targets are enriched for core circadian clock and defense genes, consistent with the long-period phenotype and immune-compromised phenotypes of sf1 mutants. Together, these findings establish that AtSF1 orchestrates alternative 3' splice site choice through intron binding and branch point recognition, coupling RNA processing with circadian and immune regulation in plants. SignificancePre-mRNA splicing is a fundamental process that shapes gene expression and proteome diversity, yet how it integrates with physiological pathways in plants remains poorly understood. Our study identifies the spliceosomal component SPLICING FACTOR1 (AtSF1) as a central modulator of alternative 3' splice site choice in Arabidopsis thaliana. By defining branch point sequences and direct RNA targets of AtSF1 in vivo, we reveal its dual regulatory role in circadian timing and immune responses. Comparative analysis with human SF1 uncovers a distinct domain architecture in the plant homolog, suggesting an alternative RNA-binding mode that evolved to meet plant-specific demands. These findings illuminate how conserved splicing machinery was molecularly adapted in the plant lineage to coordinate RNA processing with environmental and developmental cues.