U2 snRNP auxiliary factor 65 kDa (U2AF65) is a splicing factor that promotes prespliceosome assembly. The function of U2AF65 in alternative splicing has been identified; however, the essential physiological role of U2AF65 remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the regulatory role of U2AF65 in milk synthesis and growth of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). Our results showed that U2AF65 localizes in the nucleus. Treatment with amino acids (Met and Leu) and hormones (prolactin and β-estradiol) upregulated the expression of U2AF65 in these cells. U2AF65 overexpression increased the synthesis of β-casein, triglycerides, and lactose; increased cell viability; and promoted proliferation of BMECs. Furthermore, our results showed that U2AF65 positively regulated mTOR phosphorylation and expression of mature mRNA of mTOR and SREBP-1c. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that U2AF65 regulates the mRNA expression of signalling molecules (mTOR and SREBP-1c) involved in milk synthesis and growth of BMECs, possibly via controlling the splicing and maturation of these mRNAs. U2 snRNP auxiliary factor 65 kDa (U2AF65) is a splicing factor that promotes prespliceosome assembly. The essential physiological role of U2AF65 remains poorly understood. In the present study, we confirmed that U2AF65 functions as a positive regulator of milk synthesis in and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells via the mTOR-SREBP-1c signalling pathway. Therefore, our study uncovers the regulatory role of U2AF65 in milk synthesis and cell proliferation. KEYWORDS U2AF65, mTOR, SREBP-1c, β-casein, triglyceride, lactose 1 | INTRODUCTION U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U2snRNP) auxiliary factor (U2AF) is a conserved nuclear factor that plays a crucial role in mRNA splicing. U2AF is a stable heterodimer comprising U2AF65 subunit (65 kDa), which is encoded by U2AF2 gene, and the U2AF35 (35 kDa) subunit, which is encoded by the U2AF1 gene. U2AF65 interacts with the polypyrimidine tract (PPT), a conserved 3′ splice-site (ss) immediately downstream of the branch point sequence (BPS). On the other hand, U2AF35 interacts with invariant AG dinucleotides at the 3′ ss and stabilizes the binding of U2AF65 with RNA. 1,2A series of U2AF mutations have been characterized to investigate the functions of U2AF as a splicing factor, and previous studies have revealed that the stoichiometry of U2AF is important for accurate 3′ ss selection. 3,4 Consistent with the disease phenotype of myelodysplasia, one study indicated that mutations in U2AF cause widespread changes in alternative splicing and is linked to decreased cell proliferation. 5 U2AF has also been reported to be involved in other cellular processes, such as mRNA export, in which it binds to