Splicing of a pre-mRNA molecule occurs in several steps that are catalyzed by small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). After the U1 snRNP binds to the 5′ splice site, the 5′ end of the intron base pairs with the downstream branch sequence, forming a lariat. The 3′ end of the exon is cut and joined to the branch site by a hydroxyl (OH) group at the 3′ end of the exon that attacks the phosphodiester bond at the 3′ splice site. As a result, the exons (L1 and L2) are covalently bound, and the lariat containing the intron is released.
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What's the difference between mRNA and pre-mRNA? It's all about splicing of introns. See how one RNA sequence can exist in nearly 40,000 different forms.
