The Arabidopsis SR45 splicing factor bridges the splicing machinery and the exon-exon junction complex

The Arabidopsis splicing factor serine/arginine-rich 45 (SR45) contributes to several biological processes. The sr45-1 loss-of-function mutant exhibits delayed root development, late flowering, unusual numbers of floral organs, shorter siliques with decreased seed sets, narrower leaves and petals, and altered metal distribution. SR45 bears a unique RNA recognition motif (RRM) flanked by one serine/arginine-rich (RS) domain on both sides. Here, we studied the function of each of SR45 domains by examining their involvement in: (i) the spatial distribution of SR45, (ii) the establishment of a protein-protein interaction network including spliceosomal and exon-exon junction complex (EJC) components, and (iii) the RNA binding specificity. We report that the endogenous SR45 promoter is active during vegetative and reproductive growth, and that the SR45 protein localizes in the nucleus. We demonstrate that the C-terminal arginine/serine-rich domain is a determinant of nuclear localization. We show that the SR45 RNA recognition motif (RRM) domain specifically binds purine-rich RNA motifs via three residues (H101, H141, Y143), and is also involved in protein-protein interactions. We further show that SR45 bridges both mRNA splicing and surveillance machineries as a partner of EJC core components and peripheral factors, which requires phosphoresidues likely phosphorylated by kinases from both CLK and SRPK families. Our findings provide insights into the contribution of each SR45 domain to both spliceosome and EJC assemblies. HighlightThe contribution of the Arabidopsis SR45 splicing factor individual domains to its nuclear localization, ability to contact in planta novel protein partners and specifically bind RNA motifs was examined.