Transcription and RNA Processing

ID #2406

In the lecture 17 notes on the slide containing the RNA splicing diagrams, what is the difference between the snRNA and snRNP? I think they're both small nuclear RNA molecules and proteins. Is this what Prof. Mehrtens meant when he said "different snerps with different jobs"?

The term "snRNA" stands for small nuclear RNAs. snRNAs combined with proteins make up snRNPs, which are small nuclear RNA molecules and proteins. A snRNP requires both the RNA and protein components to splice out introns. It is the RNA component that has the enzymatic activity and makes the endonuclease cuts. A complex of different snRNPs will bind at the 5' splice site and the branch site, and the 5' splice site will be cleaved first, so in that way snRNPs have different functions. Different snRNPs will cut at the different locations. 

Print this record Print this record
Send to a friend Send to a friend
Show this as PDF file Show this as PDF file
Export as XML-File Export as XML-File