RNPS1 Background Information RNA-binding protein S1 (RNPS1) activates pre-mRNA splicing by synergizing with serine rich (SR) proteins (1). RNPS1 contains as an RNA-recognition motif preceded by an extensive serine-rich domain (1). RNPS1 specifically interacts with PITSLRE p110, a member of the p34cdc2 superfamily (2). Like PITSLRE, RNPS1 localizes to nuclear speckles (2). RNPS1 also interacts with
SART-3, a squamous-cell carcinoma antigen expressed in the nuclei of proliferating cells (3). RNPS1, SRm160, DEK, Y14 and REF are part of an exon-exon junction complex (EJC) that provides a strong binding site for mRNA export factors and serves as a platform for nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) factors (4). Specifically, RNPS1 induces NMD when tethered to the 3’ untranslated region of b-globin mRNA (5). The gene encoding human RNPS1 maps to chromosome 16p13.3 (6).
