Functions to regulate alternative splicing in neurons bybinding pre-mRNA in a sequence-specific manner to activate exoninclusion or exclusion. It binds specifically to the sequences 5'-YCAY-3' and regulates splicing in only a subset of regulated exons. Binding to an exonic 5'-YCAY-3' cluster changes theprotein complexes assembled on pre-mRNA, blocking U1 snRNP binding andexon inclusion, whereas binding to an intronic 5'-YCAY-3' clusterenhances spliceosome assembly and exon inclusion. Binding to 5'-YCAY-3'clusters results in a local and asymmetric action to regulatespliceosome assembly and alternative splicing in neurons. Binding to anexonic 5'-YCAY-3' cluster changed the protein complexes assembled onpre-mRNA, blocking U1 snRNP (small nuclear ribonucleoprotein) bindingand exon inclusion, whereas binding to an intronic 5'-YCAY-3' clusterenhanced spliceosome assembly and exon inclusion. With NOVA1, theyperform unique biological functions in different brain areas and celltypes. Autoregulates its own expression by acting as a splicingrepressor. Acts to activate the inclusion of exon E3A in the glycinereceptor alpha-2 chain and of exon E9 in gamma-aminobutyric-acidreceptor gamma-2 subunit via a distal downstream UCAU-rich intronicsplicing enhancer. Acts to regulate a novel glycine receptor alpha-2chain splice variant (alpha-2N) in developing spinal cord. [1]

MMAAAPIQQNGTHTGVPIDLDPPDSRKRPLEAPPEAGSTKRTNTGEDGQYFLKVLIPSYAAGSIIGKGGQTIVQLQKETGATIKLSKSKDFYPGTTERVCLIQGTVEALNAVHGFIAEKIREMPQNVAKTEPVSILQPQTTVNPDRIKQTLPSSPTTTKSSPSDPMTTSRANQVKIIVPNSTAGLIIGKGGATVKAVMEQSGAWVQLSQKPDGINLQERVVTVSGEPEQNRKAVELIIQKIQEDPQSGSCLNISYANVTGPVANSNPTGSPYANTAEVLPTAAAAAGLLGHANLAGVAAFPAVLSGFTGNDLVAITSALNTLASYGYNLNTLGLGLSQAAATGALAAAAASANPAAAAANLLATYASEASASGSTAGGTAGTFALGSLAAATAATNGYFGAASPLAASAILGTEKSTDGSKDVVEIAVPENLVGAILGKGGKTLVEYQELTGARIQISKKGEFVPGTRNRKVTITGTPAATQAAQYLITQRITYEQGVRAANPQKVG