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Updated: May 25, 2026

Visualization of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) Network in Mice
Published on: July 27, 2011
The integrator complex is required for integrity of Cajal bodies
Hideaki Takata1, Hitoshi Nishijima, Kazuhiro Maeshima
1Department of Integrated Genetics, National Institute of Genetics, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Mishima, Japan. htakata@lab.nig.ac.jp
Abstract:
The nucleus in eukaryotic cells is a highly organized and dynamic structure containing numerous subnuclear bodies. The morphological appearance of nuclear bodies seems to be a reflection of ongoing functions, such as DNA replication, transcription, repair, RNA processing and RNA transport. The integrator complex mediates processing of small nuclear RNA (snRNA), so it might play a role in nuclear body formation. Here, we show that the integrator complex is essential for integrity of the Cajal body. Depletion of INTS4, an integrator complex subunit, abrogated 3'-end processing of snRNA. A defect in this activity caused a significant accumulation of the Cajal body marker protein coilin in nucleoli. Some fractions of coilin still formed nucleoplasmic foci; however, they were free of other Cajal body components, such as survival of motor neuron protein (SMN), Sm proteins and snRNAs. SMN and Sm proteins formed striking cytoplasmic granules. These findings demonstrate that the integrator complex is essential for snRNA maturation and Cajal body homeostasis.
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