SART3 associates with a post-splicing complex.

SART3 is a multifunctional protein that acts in several steps of the gene expression including assembly and recycling of spliceosomal U4/U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP). In this work, we provide evidence that SART3 associates via its N-terminal HAT domain with the 12S U2 snRNP. Further analysis showed that SART3 associates with the post-splicing complex containing U2 and U5 snRNP components. In addition, we observed interaction between SART3 and the RNA helicase DHX15, which disassembles post-splicing complexes. Based on our data we propose a model that SART3 associates via its N-terminal HAT domain with the post-splicing complex where it interacts with U6 snRNA to protect it and to initiate U6 snRNA recycling before a next round of splicing.