cd12236

RNA recognition motif in U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein 70 kDa (U1-70K) and similar proteins; This subfamily corresponds to the RRM of U1-70K, also termed snRNP70, a key component of the U1 snRNP complex, which is one of the key factors facilitating the splicing of pre-mRNA via interaction at the 5' splice site, and is involved in regulation of polyadenylation of some viral and cellular genes, enhancing or inhibiting efficient poly(A) site usage. U1-70K plays an essential role in targeting the U1 snRNP to the 5' splice site through protein-protein interactions with regulatory RNA-binding splicing factors, such as the RS protein ASF/SF2. Moreover, U1-70K protein can specifically bind to stem-loop I of the U1 small nuclear RNA (U1 snRNA) contained in the U1 snRNP complex. It also mediates the binding of U1C, another U1-specific protein, to the U1 snRNP complex. U1-70K contains a conserved RNA recognition motif (RRM), also termed RBD (RNA binding domain) or RNP (ribonucleoprotein domain), followed by an adjacent glycine-rich region at the N-terminal half, and two serine/arginine-rich (SR) domains at the C-terminal half. The RRM is responsible for the binding of stem-loop I of U1 snRNA molecule. Additionally, the most prominent immunodominant region that can be recognized by auto-antibodies from autoimmune patients may be located within the RRM. The SR domains are involved in protein-protein interaction with SR proteins that mediate 5' splice site recognition. For instance, the first SR domain is necessary and sufficient for ASF/SF2 Binding. The family also includes Drosophila U1-70K that is an essential splicing factor required for viability in flies, but its SR domain is dispensable. The yeast U1-70k doesn't contain easily recognizable SR domains and shows low sequence similarity in the RRM region with other U1-70k proteins and therefore not included in this family. The RRM domain is dispensable for yeast U1-70K function.