small nuclear RNA

biochemistry

Also known as: snRNA

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Last updated

July 17, 2026

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Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are a type of small noncoding RNA (ncRNA) found in cells. They are crucial components of spliceosomes, the molecular machinery responsible for RNA splicing in eukaryotes. RNA splicing is the process of removing noncoding regions (introns) from a transcribed RNA molecule and joining the coding regions (exons) together, which is essential for creating functional messenger RNA (mRNA). snRNAs, along with proteins, form small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) that carry out this vital function in gene expression.12

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nucleic acid
Other RNAs
For example, small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are involved in RNA splicing, and other small RNAs that form part of the enzymes telomerase or ribonuclease P are part of ribonucleoprotein particles. The RNA component of telomerase contains a short sequence that serves as a template for the addition…
Read More
For example, small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are involved in RNA splicing, and other small RNAs that form part of the enzymes telomerase or ribonuclease P are part of ribonucleoprotein particles. The RNA component of telomerase contains a short sequence that serves as a template for the addition…
Read More