RNA recognition motif (RRM) found in serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) and similar proteins
This subfamily corresponds to the RRM of two serine/arginine (SR) proteins, serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) and serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7). SRSF3, also termed pre-mRNA-splicing factor SRp20, modulates alternative splicing by interacting with RNA cis-elements in a concentration- and cell differentiation-dependent manner. It is also involved in termination of transcription, alternative RNA polyadenylation, RNA export, and protein translation. SRSF3 is critical for cell proliferation, and tumor induction and maintenance. It can shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm. SRSF7, also termed splicing factor 9G8, plays a crucial role in both constitutive splicing and alternative splicing of many pre-mRNAs. Its localization and functions are tightly regulated by phosphorylation. SRSF7 is predominantly present in the nuclear and can shuttle between nucleus and cytoplasm. It cooperates with the export protein, Tap/NXF1, helps mRNA export to the cytoplasm, and enhances the expression of unspliced mRNA. Moreover, SRSF7 inhibits tau E10 inclusion through directly interacting with the proximal downstream intron of E10, a clustering region for frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism (FTDP) mutations. Both SRSF3 and SRSF7 contain a single N-terminal RNA recognition motif (RRM), also termed RBD (RNA binding domain) or RNP (ribonucleoprotein domain), and a C-terminal RS domain rich in serine-arginine dipeptides. The RRM domain is involved in RNA binding, and the RS domain has been implicated in protein shuttling and protein-protein interactions.