A conserved Lsm-interaction motif in Prp24 required for efficient U4/U6 di-snRNP formation

The assembly of the U4 and U6 snRNPs into the U4/U6 di-snRNP is necessary for pre-mRNA splicing, and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the splicing factor Prp24. We have identified a family of Prp24 homologs that includes the human protein SART3/p110nrb, which had been identified previously as a surface antigen in several cancers. Sequence conservation among the Prp24 homologs reveals the existence of a fourth previously unidentified RNA recognition motif (RRM) in Prp24, which we demonstrate is necessary for growth of budding yeast at 37 degrees C. The family is also characterized by a highly conserved 12-amino-acid motif at the extreme C terminus. Deletion of this motif in Prp24 causes a cold-sensitive growth phenotype and a decrease in base-paired U4/U6 levels in vivo. The mutant protein also has a reduced association with U6 snRNA in extract, and is unable to interact with the U6 Lsm proteins by two-hybrid assay. In vitro annealing assays demonstrate that deletion of the motif causes a defect in U4/U6 formation by reducing binding of Prp24 to its substrate. We conclude that the conserved C-terminal motif of Prp24 interacts with the Lsm proteins to promote U4/U6 formation.