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Characterization of Sm‐like proteins in yeast and their association with U6 snRNA
Author(s) -
Mayes Andrew E,
Verdone Loredana,
Legrain Pierre,
Beggs Jean D
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/18.15.4321
Subject(s) - snrnp , prp24 , small nuclear rna , spliceosome , biology , rna splicing , ribonucleoprotein , biogenesis , rna binding protein , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , immunoprecipitation , rna , saccharomyces cerevisiae , biochemistry , yeast , gene , non coding rna
Seven Sm proteins associate with U1, U2, U4 and U5 spliceosomal snRNAs and influence snRNP biogenesis. Here we describe a novel set of Sm‐like (Lsm) proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that interact with each other and with U6 snRNA. Seven Lsm proteins co‐immunoprecipitate with the previously characterized Lsm4p (Uss1p) and interact with each other in two‐hybrid analyses. Free U6 and U4/U6 duplexed RNAs co‐immunoprecipitate with seven of the Lsm proteins that are essential for the stable accumulation of U6 snRNA. Analyses of U4/U6 di‐snRNPs and U4/U6·U5 tri‐snRNPs in Lsm‐depleted strains suggest that Lsm proteins may play a role in facilitating conformational rearrangements of the U6 snRNP in the association–dissociation cycle of spliceosome complexes. Thus, Lsm proteins form a complex that differs from the canonical Sm complex in its RNA association(s) and function. We discuss the possible existence and functions of alternative Lsm complexes, including the likelihood that they are involved in processes other than pre‐mRNA splicing.