SMN protein

SMN (Survival Motor Neuron) protein is essential for the health of nerve cells, particularly those controlling muscles. It helps produce and maintain the proper functioning of tiny structures called splicing components, which are vital for editing genetic messages that tell cells how to build proteins. Without enough SMN protein, these processes falter, leading to weakness and loss of muscle function. Reduced SMN levels are a key factor in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of movement.