Zinc Finger, CCHC-Type And RNA Binding Motif 1 (ZCRB1)

ZCRB1 contains a RNA recognition motif. It was identified as one of the protein components of U11/U12 snRNPs. This protein and many other U11/U12 snRNP proteins are highly conserved in organisms known to contain U12-type introns. These proteins have been shown to be essential for cell viability, suggesting the key roles in U12-type splicing.

The deduced 217-amino acid protein contains an RNA-binding motif, a CCHC-type zinc finger motif, and lysine- and glutamine-rich sequences. Database analysis suggested that ZCRB1 is conserved from plant to primate. Northern blot analysis of mouse tissues detected highest expression in heart and testis, lower expression in cerebellum, hindbrain, muscle, lung, and fat, and lowest expression in liver.