What is the role of snRNA in cells?

snRNA, or small nuclear RNA, plays a crucial role in the processing of pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) molecules in eukaryotic cells. It is primarily involved in the splicing of pre-mRNA, a key step in the modification of mRNA after it has been transcribed from DNA but before it is translated into protein. During the splicing process, snRNA works in conjunction with proteins to form small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), which recognize specific intron-exon junctions in pre-mRNA. These snRNPs help remove non-coding sequences (introns) from the pre-mRNA and join the coding sequences (exons) together, creating a mature mRNA transcript that is ready for translation.

Understanding the specific function of snRNA helps to clarify its essential role in gene expression regulation and the overall process of protein synthesis, despite it not being directly involved in the synthesis itself. The involvement of snRNA in mRNA modification is fundamental for ensuring that the mRNA is correctly processed and functional, as improper splicing can lead to nonfunctional proteins or diseases.