Pre-mRNA Processing Factor 4B (PRPF4B)

The Prp4 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a protein kinase that appears to be involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Based on kinase domain sequence, Prp4 belongs to the Clk (CDC-like kinase) family. Using a PCR approach, Gross et al. (1997) identified human and mouse Prp4 homologs. The human and mouse amino acid sequences are 98% identical, and the mammalian sequence shared 44% identity with that of the S. pombe protein. Gross et al. (1997) demonstrated that Prp4 and a recombinant fusion protein consisting of the yeast N terminus with the mouse kinase domain phosphorylated the human arginine/serine-rich splicing factor SFRS2 in vitro. The International Radiation Hybrid Mapping Consortium mapped the PRP4 gene to chromosome 6.