AQR (aquarius intron-binding spliceosomal factor) is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that plays critical roles in pre-mRNA splicing and RNA metabolism. As a core component of the spliceosome, AQR functions during catalytic activation by facilitating the remodeling and dissociation of spliceosomal complexes 1. Specifically, AQR enables the removal of PRP2, SF3A, and SF3B complexes to promote branch duplex relocation for catalysis 1. AQR links pre-mRNA splicing to small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein (snoRNP) biogenesis by binding introns in a sequence-independent manner and facilitating the assembly of box C/D snoRNP 2. Beyond splicing, AQR possesses RNA:DNA helicase activity that enables resolution of R-loop structures—RNA-DNA hybrids implicated in transcription and DNA repair 34. Notably, AQR promotes HIV-1 integration into R-loop-enriched intronic regions, suggesting a role in viral integration targeting 4. Clinically, AQR variants associate with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with AQR knockdown improving glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity through mTOR pathway inhibition 5. AQR overexpression promotes endothelial cell senescence via the AQR/PLAU signaling axis, linking hyperglycemia-induced vascular dysfunction to diabetes complications 6.