Chapter 4 Roles of Eukaryotic Lsm Proteins in the Regulation of mRNA Function

The eukaryotic Lsm proteins belong to the large family of Sm-like proteins, which includes members from all organisms ranging from archaebacteria to humans. The Sm and Lsm proteins typically exist as hexameric or heptameric complexes in vivo and carry out RNA-related functions. Multiple complexes made up of different combinations of Sm and Lsm proteins are known in eukaryotes and these complexes are involved in a variety of functions such as mRNA decay in the cytoplasm, mRNA and pre-mRNA decay in the nucleus, pre-mRNA splicing, replication dependent histone mRNA 3′-end processing, etc. While most Lsm proteins function in the form of heteromeric complexes that include other Lsm proteins, some Lsm proteins are also known that do not behave in that manner. Abnormal expression of some Lsm proteins has also been implicated in human diseases. The various roles of eukaryotic Lsm complexes impacting mRNA function are discussed in this review.