SFSWAP is a negative regulator of OGT intron detention and global pre-mRNA splicing [RNA-seq II]

In this study, we identified SFSWAP as a negative regulator of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) intron 4 detention and global pre-mRNA splicing using a CRISPR knockout screen in an O-GlcNAc responsive GFP reporter cell line. In order to characterize the functions of the protein, we performed siRNA mediated knockdown of SFSWAP followed by RNA-seq analysis under TG-treated conditions. In addition, we performed the same analysis under UPF1 knockdown conditions to stabilize NMD targeted transcripts. Alternate splicing analysis using rMATS (and other tools) revealed enhanced splicing of retained introns and increased inclusion of cassette exons upon knockdown of SFSWAP, supporting an inhibitory role for SFSWAP in splicing.