text: ASF/SF2 is an integral part of numerous components of the splicing process.  ASF/SF2 is required for 5’ splice site cleavage and selection, and is capable of discriminating between cryptic and authentic splice sites. Subsequent lariat formation during the first chemical step of pre-mRNA splicing also requires ASF/SF2. ASF/SF2 promotes recruitment of the U1 snRNP to the 5’ splice site, and bridges the 5’ and 3’ splice sites to facilitate splicing reactions. ASF/SF2 also associates with the U2 snRNP. During the  reaction, ASF/SF2 promotes the use of intron proximal sites and hinders the use of intron distal sites, affecting alternative splicing. Alternative splicing is affected by ASF/SF2 in a concentration-dependent manner; differing concentrations of ASF/SF2 is a mechanism for alternative splicing regulation, and will result in differing amounts of product isoforms. ASF/SF2 accomplishes this regulation through direct or indirect binding to exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) sequences.