Diversity of human U2AF splicing factors

• Published in: The FEBS journal Vol. 273; no. 21; pp. 4807 - 4816
• Main Authors: de Stoop Camões Teixeira Guerra Mollet, Inês Maria, BARBOSA MORAIS, NUNO LUÍS, Andrade, Jorge, Carmo-Fonseca, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.11.2006; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Alternative Splicing; Amino Acid Sequence; CAPER; Evolution, Molecular; Humans; Models, Molecular; Molecular Sequence Data; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Protein Binding; Protein Isoforms - genetics; Protein Isoforms - metabolism; Protein Subunits - genetics; Protein Subunits - metabolism; PUF60; Ribonucleoproteins - genetics; Ribonucleoproteins - metabolism; RNA splicing; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Splicing Factor U2AF; U2AF
• ISSN: 1742-464X; 1742-4658
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2006.05502.x

© 2006 The Authors Journal compilation ©2006 FEBS U2 snRNP auxiliary factor (U2AF) is an essential heterodimeric splicing factor composed of two subunits, U2AF(65) and U2AF(35). During the past few years, a number of proteins related to both U2AF(65) and U2AF(35) have been discovered. Here, we review the conserved structural features that characterize the U2AF protein families and their evolutionary emergence. We perform a comprehensive database search designed to identify U2AF protein isoforms produced by alternative splicing, and we discuss the potential implications of U2AF protein diversity for splicing regulation. This work was supported by grants from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (POCTI/MGI/49430/2002, SFRH/BD/2914/2000), the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA3662), and the European Commission (EURASNET, LSHG‐CT‐2005‐518238).