Survival Motor Neuron Domain Containing 1 (SMNDC1), also known as Survival of Motor Neuron-Related-Splicing Factor 30 (SPF30), is a protein encoded by the SMNDC1 gene in humans. This protein is a constituent of the spliceosome complex, which is essential for RNA splicing, a critical process in gene expression. SMNDC1 is a paralog of the SMN1 gene, which encodes the survival motor neuron protein, mutations in which are the cause of autosomal recessive proximal spinal muscular atrophy .
The SMNDC1 gene is located on chromosome 10 at the band 10q25.2 and spans approximately 14,208 base pairs. The protein encoded by this gene is a nuclear protein that has been identified as a constituent of the spliceosome complex. It is involved in the assembly of the U4/U5/U6 tri-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein into the spliceosome .
SMNDC1 plays a crucial role in RNA splicing, a process that removes introns from pre-mRNA and joins exons together to form mature mRNA. This process is vital for the proper expression of genes and the production of functional proteins. The protein is also involved in mRNA processing and the apoptotic process .
The SMNDC1 gene is differentially expressed in various tissues, with abundant levels in skeletal muscle. It is also expressed in other tissues such as the amniotic fluid, buccal mucosa, germinal epithelium, cartilage tissue, gingival epithelium, parietal pleura, retinal pigment epithelium, jejunal mucosa, and palpebral conjunctiva .
Mutations in the SMN1 gene, a paralog of SMNDC1, are known to cause autosomal recessive proximal spinal muscular atrophy, a severe genetic disorder characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to muscle wasting and weakness. While SMNDC1 itself is not directly implicated in this disorder, its role in RNA splicing and its similarity to SMN1 suggest that it may share similar cellular functions .