Pre-mRNA Processing Factor 3 (PRPF3)

The removal of introns from nuclear pre-mRNAs occurs on complexes called spliceosomes, which are made up of 4 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) particles and an undefined number of transiently associated splicing factors. PRPF3 is 1 of several proteins that associate with U4 and U6 snRNPs.

PRP3 shares significant homology with yeast and nematode Prp3, with the similarity limited to their C-terminal halves.Overall, PRP3 has a large percentage of basic residues (18% arginine and lysine). PRP3 also contains 3 sequences that are homologous to one another and that share a central ELK motif. It also has a region with some similarity to a double-stranded RNA-binding motif.