snRNA catalysts in the spliceosome's ancient core.

Madhani, Hiten D · Cell · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The spliceosome, an assembly of snRNAs and proteins, catalyzes the removal of introns from premessenger RNAs. A new study identifies specific phosphates in the U2-U6 snRNA complex that position two catalytic metals. Remarkably, these correspond precisely to metal-binding phosphates in a homologous structure of Group II self-splicing introns, long proposed to be the ribozyme progenitor of spliceosome.

Medical subject headings