Isoginkgetin is a cell-permeable chemical isolated from the Ginkgo biloba tree that binds to and inhibits snRNPs.

What types of problems would you anticipate in cells treated with isoginkgetin?

Key Concepts

snRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoproteins)

snRNPs are essential components of the spliceosome, a complex responsible for the splicing of pre-mRNA in eukaryotic cells. They play a critical role in removing introns from pre-mRNA and joining exons together, which is vital for producing mature mRNA that can be translated into proteins. Inhibition of snRNPs can lead to improper splicing, resulting in dysfunctional proteins and potentially causing cellular stress or apoptosis.

mRNA splicing

mRNA splicing is the process by which introns are removed and exons are joined together in pre-mRNA to form mature mRNA. This process is crucial for gene expression, as it determines which protein isoforms are produced. Disruption of splicing due to the inhibition of snRNPs by isoginkgetin could lead to the production of non-functional proteins or the retention of introns, which can severely affect cellular function and viability.

cellular stress response

The cellular stress response is a set of mechanisms that cells activate in response to various stressors, including chemical inhibitors like isoginkgetin. When splicing is disrupted, cells may experience an accumulation of unspliced pre-mRNA, leading to stress responses such as the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) or apoptosis. Understanding this response is crucial for predicting the potential consequences of treating cells with isoginkgetin.