A G-Quadruplex Containing First Intron Harbors a Functional Polyadenylation Signal in TP53

A previously unannotated intronic transcript, TP53-INT1, in TP53 is linked to a functional upstream polyadenylation signal and a confirmed G-quadruplex-forming sequence.

• Why it matters: First introns can harbor regulatory elements, but the roles of low-abundance intronic RNAs in TP53 gene regulation remain unclear.
• What they did: Using long-read direct RNA sequencing, the team mapped TP53-INT1 and validated its structure and 3′ end; they then tested a canonical polyadenylation signal with reporter assays and confirmed G4-forming potential with spectroscopic and thermal stability analyses.
• The result: Reporter assays showed the polyadenylation signal is functional, and Pyridostatin treatment was associated with decreased TP53 expression, implying this local intronic context may affect full-length transcription.

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