SnRNP
SnRNP (pronounced "snurp"), or Small Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins, are a type of protein complex that combines with RNA to form a structure known as a spliceosome. This structure is crucial in the process of pre-mRNA splicing, which is a vital step in the production of mature messenger RNA (mRNA).
Structure and Composition[edit | edit source]
SnRNPs are composed of both protein and RNA components. The RNA component is known as small nuclear RNA (snRNA), and each SnRNP contains one or more of these snRNA molecules. The protein component consists of a set of seven common proteins known as the Sm proteins, as well as a number of unique proteins specific to each type of SnRNP.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of SnRNPs is to participate in the process of pre-mRNA splicing. This process involves the removal of non-coding sequences, known as introns, from the pre-mRNA molecule, and the joining together of the remaining coding sequences, known as exons. This splicing process is carried out by the spliceosome, a large complex formed by the assembly of several different SnRNPs and numerous other proteins.
Types of SnRNP[edit | edit source]
There are several different types of SnRNP, each identified by a specific type of snRNA molecule. These include U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 SnRNPs. Each type of SnRNP has a specific role in the splicing process, with the U1 and U2 SnRNPs recognizing the splice sites on the pre-mRNA molecule, and the U4, U5, and U6 SnRNPs involved in the actual splicing reaction.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Defects in the function of SnRNPs can lead to a variety of diseases, including autoimmune diseases such as lupus, in which the immune system mistakenly targets the body's own SnRNPs. In addition, mutations in the genes encoding the components of SnRNPs can result in genetic disorders such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a condition characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy.
.svg){kind=small}
This article is a molecular biology stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
