Background of the antigen
FUSIP1 is a member of the Serine/Arginine (SR) family of splicing factors. Members of the SR family all contain one or more RNA recognition motifs (RRM) and an SR-rich domain. SR factors are not only essential for constitutive splicing but also regulate splicing in a concentration-dependent manner by influencing the selection of alternative splice sites. Expressed in a variety of tissues with low expression in kidney, liver and heart, FUSIP1 localizes to the cytoplasm and nuclear speckles. In its dephosphorylated form (occurring during M phase of the cell cycle), FUSIP1 functions as a potent general repressor of pre-mRNA splicing and can interact with U1 SnRNP 70. In its phosphorylated form, FUSIP1 interacts with Tra-2∫ and, together, they may cooperate in the regulation of splicing. Four isoforms exist for FUSIP1. In neurons, FUSIP1 isoforms may act to either positively or negatively regulate alternative splicing.
