Srrt-flox Mouse

Srrt, also known as Arsenite-resistance protein 2 (ARS2), is an essential eukaryotic protein. It is at the nexus of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription, transcript maturation and quality control. Through interacting with the Cap Binding Complex (CBC), it associates with the cap of newly made RNAs and acts as a hub for competitive exchanges of protein factors that determine the fate of the associated RNA [1]. It also plays a role in maintaining the identity of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) by preventing premature termination of numerous transcripts at cryptic cleavage/polyadenylation sites in first introns [3].

In neural stem cells (NSCs), selective knockdown of Ars2 (Srrt) in cells expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein within the adult subventricular zone (SVZ) of mice depletes the number of NSCs and their neurogenic capacity. Ex vivo assays show that Ars2 is necessary and sufficient to promote NSC self-renewal by positively regulating the expression of Sox2 [4]. In prostate cancer, high SRRT expression is significantly associated with poor overall survival and cause-specific survival, and is also related to common genomic aberrations in lethal prostate cancer [2].

In conclusion, Srrt is crucial in multiple biological processes such as RNA processing and stem cell identity maintenance. Studies in mouse models have revealed its role in neural stem cell self-renewal and its association with prostate cancer prognosis, highlighting its importance in understanding normal biological functions and disease mechanisms.