snRNA
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Genetics
| Stands for | Small nuclear RNA |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
snRNA stands for Small nuclear RNA, a genetics abbreviation.
Short RNA found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, about 150 nucleotides long, that forms the core of the spliceosome, the machine that cuts introns out of pre-messenger RNA. The major spliceosome uses U1, U2, U4, U5 and U6 snRNAs.
Example: Mutations in the U4 snRNA gene RNU4-2 were recently linked to a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
Usage notes
snRNAs combine with proteins to form small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, or snRNPs, nicknamed "snurps." Patients with lupus often produce antibodies against snRNPs, which helped Joan Steitz's lab identify their role in splicing in 1980.
Related abbreviations
More genetics abbreviations
- RNAi – RNA interference
- scRNA-seq – Single-cell RNA sequencing
- sgRNA – Single guide RNA
- shRNA – Short hairpin RNA
- siRNA – Small interfering RNA
- SNP – Single-nucleotide polymorphism
- SNV – Single-nucleotide variant
- ssDNA – Single-stranded DNA
- STR – Short tandem repeat
- T2T – Telomere-to-telomere
- TF – Transcription factor
- UTR – Untranslated region