Defining the role of the mammalian prp4 kinase (PRP4K) in gene regulation

The regulation of gene expression is a fundamental cellular process. When genes are transcribed into pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA), introns within this RNA must be removed or "spliced-out" before mature mRNA can be exported efficiently to the cytoplasm for translation. The co-ordination of gene expression and splicing can be disrupted in cancer and during viral infection. The disruption of these processes can lead to both aberrant protein expression and uncontrolled cell growth. We have identified an essential mammalian protein, Prp4 kinase (PRP4K), which may be an important factor in the co-ordination of transcription and pre-mRNA splicing. Characterisation of the role of PRP4K in co-transcriptional splicing will lead to an increased understanding of how these cellular events are regulated and ultimately how we might safeguard these processes during viral disease and cancer.