A new study reveals the critical role of specific proteins in maintaining proper heart function during growth. Researchers have discovered that splicing factors must collaborate too protect the heart and ensure its healthy operation.

“This study shows that splicing factors need to work together to safeguard and keep the heart functioning properly during development,” saeid WU.

“By working together, thay ensure that genes critical for cardiac contraction are spliced correctly, preventing the kinds of errors that can lead to devastating heart disease.”

Through RNA sequencing and mechanistic experiments, the team uncovered that RBPMS and RBPMS2 not only promote heart-specific splicing programs, but that they also actively suppress non-cardiac genes, ensuring the heart maintains its unique molecular signature.

The study also demonstrates that the position of where these proteins bind to precursor messenger RNA determines weather they act as activators or repressors of splicing.

“By working together, they ensure that genes critical for cardiac contraction are spliced correctly, preventing the kinds of errors that can lead to devastating heart disease.”

“These findings provide hope for the 40,000 children born each year in the United states with congenital heart disease as well as the 1.1 million adults with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM),” said MARIA I. KONTARIDIS, Ph.D.

“Understanding the cooperative network of these splicing factors opens the door to new therapeutic strategies.”