Involved in pre-mRNA splicing as a component of the splicing factor SF3B complex (PubMed:27720643). SF3B complex is required for 'A' complex assembly formed by the stable binding of U2 snRNP to the branchpoint sequence (BPS) in pre-mRNA (PubMed:12234937). Directly contacts the pre-mRNA branch site adenosine for the first catalytic step of splicing (PubMed:16432215). Enters the spliceosome and associates with the pre-mRNA branch site as part of the 17S U2 or, in the case of the minor spliceosome, as part of the 18S U11/U12 snRNP complex, and thus may facilitate the interaction of these snRNP with the branch sites of U2 and U12 respectively (PubMed:16432215).