U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SNRPA gene. The protein encoded by this gene associates with stem loop II of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein, which binds the 5' splice site of precursor mRNAs and is required for splicing. The encoded protein autoregulates itself by polyadenylation inhibition of its own pre-mRNA via dimerization and has been implicated in the coupling of splicing and polyadenylation. [provided by RefSeq]. Publication Note: This RefSeq record includes a subset of the publications that are available for this gene. Please see the Gene record to access additional publications.
Binds stem loop II of U1 snRNA. It is the first snRNP to interact with pre-mRNA. This interaction is required for the subsequent binding of U2 snRNP and the U4/U6/U5 tri-snRNP. In a snRNP-free form (SF-A) may be involved in coupled pre-mRNA splicing and polyadenylation process.