U6 snRNA is the non-coding small nuclear RNA (snRNA) component of U6 snRNP (small nuclear ribonucleoprotein), an RNA-protein complex that combines with other snRNPs, unmodified pre-mRNA, and various other proteins to assemble a spliceosome, a large RNA-protein molecular complex that catalyzes the excision of introns from pre-mRNA.

Splicing, or the removal of introns, is a major aspect of post-transcriptional modification and takes place only in the nucleus of eukaryotes.

The RNA sequence of U6 is the most highly conserved across species of all five of the snRNAs involved in the spliceosome,[1] suggesting that the function of the U6 snRNA has remained both crucial and unchanged through evolution.

Prp24 is thought to form an intermediate complex with the U6 snRNA, in order to facilitate the extensive base-pairing between the U4 and U6 snRNAs, and the Lsms may aid in Prp24 binding.

This study suggests that in the free form of U6, Prp24 binds to the telestem and the uridine-rich 3' tail of the U6 snRNA is threaded through the ring of Lsms.