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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins
Published on: August 9, 2019
Boric acid reversibly inhibits the second step of pre-mRNA splicing
1Department of Human Genetics, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
Abstract:
Several approaches have been used to identify the factors involved in mRNA splicing. None of them, however, comprises a straightforward reversible method for inhibiting the second step of splicing using an external reagent other than a chelator. This investigation demonstrates that the addition of boric acid to an in vitro pre-mRNA splicing reaction causes a dose-dependent reversible inhibition effect on the second step of splicing. The mechanism of action does not involve chelation of several metal ions; hindrance of 3' splice-site; or binding to hSlu7. This study presents a novel method for specific reversible inhibition of the second step of pre-mRNA splicing.
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