Final answer:
In splicing, introns are removed and exons are joined in a pre-mRNA transcript by a complex called the spliceosome, composed of snRNPs and snRNAs. Ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules that assist in RNA processing and translation. The snRNPs, formed from snRNAs and proteins, are crucial for identifying splicing sites within mRNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
Splicing is a fundamental process in the cell where introns are removed from a pre-mRNA transcript and the remaining exons are joined to form the final mRNA. This is facilitated by a complex called the spliceosome, which is composed of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). snRNPs are crucial as they recognize splicing sites in mRNA and guide the necessary cuts and ligations. In addition, ribozymes are RNA molecules that possess catalytic properties, similar to enzymes, and play a role in RNA processing, including splicing and translation.
Ribozymes help in the processing of newly transcribed RNA, including small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and heteronuclear RNA (hnRNA). In translation, ribozymes are part of the ribosome's small subunit, helping to catalyze the assembly of amino acids into polypeptide chains based on the genetic information contained within an mRNA molecule. snRNAs are transcribed by RNA polymerase III and, alongside proteins, form the snRNPs that participate in the essential regulation of pre-mRNA splicing.