What are snRNPs composed of?

snRNPs, or small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, are molecular complexes essential for the splicing of pre-mRNA in eukaryotic cells. They are composed of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and a variety of associated proteins. The snRNAs within snRNPs play a critical role in recognizing the splice sites on the pre-mRNA and catalyzing the splicing reaction, while the proteins serve both structural and functional roles, stabilizing the complex and facilitating interactions with the pre-mRNA as well as with other spliceosomal components. This combination of snRNAs and proteins ensures the splicing is conducted accurately and efficiently, which is vital for proper gene expression and the production of functional proteins.