SMU1 (suppressor of Mec8 and Unc-52 homolog), also known as BWD (brain-enriched WD), is a member of the WD-repeat SMU1 family and contains one CTLH domain, one LisH domain and six WD-repeats. SMU1 is a homolog of the C. elegans protein Smu1, a ubiquitously expressed nuclear protein that is believed to play a role in alternative splicing events of Unc-52. In mammals, SMU1 is a component of the spliceosome and appears to exhibit a conserved function, affecting the splicing of the mammalian Unc-52 homolog, namely Perlecan. Mutations in the gene encoding SMU1 may affect the function of the spliceosome.
