@article {19004,
	title = {The Drosophila U1-70K Protein Is Required for Viability, but Its Arginine-Rich Domain Is Dispensable},
	journal = {GeneticsGenetics},
	volume = {168},
	year = {2004},
	month = {2004/12/01/},
	pages = {2059 - 2065},
	abstract = {The conserved spliceosomal U1-70K protein is thought to play a key role in RNA splicing by linking the U1 snRNP particle to regulatory RNA-binding proteins. Although these protein interactions are mediated by repeating units rich in arginines and serines (RS domains) in vitro, tests of this domain{\textquoteright}s importance in intact multicellular organisms have not been carried out. Here we report a comprehensive genetic analysis of U1-70K function in Drosophila. Consistent with the idea that U1-70K is an essential splicing factor, we find that loss of U1-70K function results in lethality during embryogenesis. Surprisingly, and contrary to the current view of U1-70K function, animals carrying a mutant U1-70K protein lacking the arginine-rich domain, which includes two embedded sets of RS dipeptide repeats, have no discernible mutant phenotype. Through double-mutant studies, however, we show that the U1-70K RS domain deletion no longer supports viability when combined with a viable mutation in another U1 snRNP component. Together our studies demonstrate that while the protein interactions mediated by the U1-70K RS domain are not essential for viability, they nevertheless contribute to an essential U1 snRNP function.},
	isbn = {0016-6731, 1943-2631},
	doi = {10.1534/genetics.104.032532},
	url = {http://www.genetics.org/content/168/4/2059},
	author = {Salz,Helen K. and Mancebo,Ricardo S. Y. and Nagengast,Alexis A. and Speck,Olga and Psotka,Mitchell and Mount, Stephen M.}
}
