Splicing of the Large Intron Present in the Nonstructural Gene of Minute Virus of Mice Is Governed by TIA-1/TIAR Binding Downstream of the Nonconsensus Donor

The essential proteins NS1 and NS2 of minute virus of mice are encoded by mRNAs R1 and R2, respectively. R2 is derived from R1 by excision of a large intron and thus splicing governs the relative ratios of NS1 and NS2. Excision of the large intron utilizes a nonconsensus 5' donor site. We identified a U-rich and A-rich intronic sequence immediately downstream of the nonconsensus 5' donor site that functions as an intronic splicing enhancer (ISE) required for efficient large-intron excision. The ISE binds the cellular RNA-processing proteins TIA-1 and TIAR, which enhance usage of the nonconsensus donor.