Based on limited published evidence, ZMAT5 is a zinc finger matrin-type protein localized to the nucleoplasm that functions as a component of the U12-type spliceosomal complex. It is positioned near the 5' end of U11 snRNA where it stabilizes binding of incoming 5' splice sites during U12-dependent intron recognition 1. ZMAT5 participates in mRNA splicing via spliceosome and spliceosomal conformational changes. A cancer-associated MGST3-ZMAT5 translocation was identified in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma 2, though its biological significance remains unclear.