“Quality control in snRNP biogenesis”

Before being assembled into spliceosomes, small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) undergo a complex and regulated maturation pathway. Cajal bodies (CBs) have been shown to monitor the final stage of this process by sequestering immature or misassembled particles through a yet unknown quality control mechanism. Here, we have identified coilin, a CB marker protein, as the quality control factor. We further characterize coilin domains interacting with snRNPs and elucidate the molecular mechanism how coilin recognize immature snRNPs.