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Review

RNA helicases in splicing

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Pages 83-95 | Received 07 Aug 2012, Accepted 13 Oct 2012, Published online: 10 Dec 2012
 

Abstract

In eukaryotic cells, introns are spliced from pre-mRNAs by the spliceosome. Both the composition and the structure of the spliceosome are highly dynamic, and eight DExD/H RNA helicases play essential roles in controlling conformational rearrangements. There is evidence that the various helicases are functionally and physically connected with each other and with many other factors in the spliceosome. Understanding the dynamics of those interactions is essential to comprehend the mechanism and regulation of normal as well as of pathological splicing. This review focuses on recent advances in the characterization of the splicing helicases and their interactions, and highlights the deep integration of splicing helicases in global mRNP biogenesis pathways.

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Keerthi Chathoth and Daniela Hahn for helpful suggestions. This work was supported by Wellcome Trust grant 087551. The Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology is supported by Wellcome Trust core funding [092076]. JDB is the Royal Society Darwin Trust Research Professor.

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