AUTHOR=Xiong Feng , Li Sha 

TITLE=SF3b4: A Versatile Player in Eukaryotic Cells

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2020.00014

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2020.00014

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=<p>Spliceosomes are large protein-RNA complexes regulating pre-mRNA processing in eukaryotes. <italic>SF3b4</italic> encodes a core subunit of the U2-type spliceosome, loss- or gain-of-function of which often associates with abnormal cell growth, leading to tumorigenesis. Homologs of <italic>SF3b4</italic> in other phyla are also essential. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the function of SF3b4. Importantly, we highlight the versatile roles of SF3b4, not only as a component for pre-mRNA splicing, but also as a regulator for transcription, translation, and cell signaling. Recent studies of SF3b4 homologs in different species across evolution will facilitate a better understanding of human diseases caused by the malfunction of SF3b4, such as Nager syndrome (NS) and cancer, in the future.</p>