SMN is found in the cytoplasm of all animal cells and also in the nuclear gems.

It functions in transcriptional regulation, telomerase regeneration and cellular trafficking.

[2] SMN deficiency, primarily due to mutations in SMN1, results in widespread splicing defects, especially in spinal motor neurons, and is one cause of spinal muscular atrophy.

Research also showed a possible role of SMN in neuronal migration and/or differentiation.

Surprisingly, these are filamentous fungus which have mycelia, so suggesting analogy to the neuronal axons.