Role of the U11/U12 Spliceosome Component ZCRB1 in Splicing Regulation, Ciliogenesis, and WNT Signaling in Human Cells
The U12-dependent (minor) spliceosome processes only a small fraction of human introns yet plays a vital role in gene expression and cellular signaling. ZCRB1 is a core U12 mono-snRNP component whose function in splicing and signaling regulation remains poorly understood. Using CRISPR-Cas9 and siRNA knockdown in human HEK293 cells, we show that reduced ZCRB1 expression disrupts minor intron splicing, alters U12-type gene expression, and impairs ciliogenesis. These effects lead to activation of WNT signaling components, revealing a key role for ZCRB1 in linking minor splicing with major signaling pathways in human cells.