French, German and Spanish scientists discovered how the U2AF protein enables the pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA), which serves as a template for protein synthesis in the body. The pre-mRNA must first be transcribed from the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). With this study the European team discovered a new human gene regulation mechanism.

The research, directed by scientist from the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany, provides new insight into how the U2AF protein enables the process to produce proteins, which needs transcribe a protein-coding gene into ribonucleic acid (RNA) and in the 'splicing process' shortened to the correct template if you want to produce proteins. The research was funded in part by three EU projects with a combined total of €25.4 million under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

According to the researchers, a process of conformational selection helps bring on a shift of balance between the closed and open form of the U2AF protein. In effect, the RNA binds to a tiny fraction of the open conformation that exists, regardless of RNA presence or absence. They believe that similar mechanisms can contribute significantly to the regulation of a number of other signal pathways in the cell.