SHQ1 Homolog (SHQ1)

SHQ1 assists in the assembly of H/ACA-box ribonucleoproteins that function in the processing of ribosomal RNAs, modification of spliceosomal small nuclear RNAs, and stabilization of telomerase.The deduced protein contains an N-terminal HSP20 (HSPB6)-like CS domain and a central domain that is conserved in yeast Shq1. The first 445 amino acids of yeast and human SHQ1 share 26% identity. Immunofluorescence analysis of human cell lines revealed that SHQ1 localized to the nucleoplasm in a granular pattern, with exclusion from nucleoli and Cajal bodies.SHQ1 was required for stable accumulation of all H/ACA ribonucleoproteins tested, including telomerase. SHQ1 was absent from the mature H/ACA ribonucleoproteins, consistent with its exclusion from nucleoli and Cajal bodies.