The LSM domain contains Sm proteins as well as other related LSM (Like Sm) proteins. The U1, U2, U4/U6, and U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) involved in pre-mRNA splicing contain seven Sm proteins (B/B', D1, D2, D3, E, F and G) i ...
The LSM domain contains Sm proteins as well as other related LSM (Like Sm) proteins. The U1, U2, U4/U6, and U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) involved in pre-mRNA splicing contain seven Sm proteins (B/B', D1, D2, D3, E, F and G) in common, which assemble around the Sm site present in four of the major spliceosomal small nuclear RNAs. The U6 snRNP binds to the LSM (Like Sm) proteins [3]. Sm proteins are also found in archaebacteria, which do not have any splicing apparatus suggesting a more general role for Sm proteins. All Sm proteins contain a common sequence motif in two segments, Sm1 and Sm2, separated by a short variable linker. This family also includes the bacterial Hfq (host factor Q) proteins. Hfq are also RNA-binding proteins, that form hexameric rings.