Final answer:
The snRNAs in spliceosomes catalytically splice pre-mRNAs by forming complexes with proteins (snRNPs) that bind to specific sites on pre-mRNA, leading to intron removal and exon ligation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) in the spliceosomes play a critical role in the splicing of pre-mRNA. They do this by forming complexes known as small ribonuclear proteins (snRNPs), which bind to specific sites on the pre-mRNA. This binding draws the two splice sites together to form the spliceosome. The spliceosome then catalytically splices pre-mRNAs by recognizing sequences at the 5' and 3' end of the intron, cutting the transcript at those two points, removing the intron, and finally bringing the exons together for ligation, forming a continuous mRNA that is ready for translation.