Site-specific ribose methylation of preribosomal RNA: a novel function for small nucleolar RNAs

Cell. 1996 Jun 28;85(7):1077-88. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81308-2.

Abstract

Eukaryotic cells contain many fibrillarin-associated small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that possess long complementarities to mature rRNAs. Characterization of 21 novel antisense snoRNAs from human cells followed by genetic depletion and reconstitution studies on yeast U24 snoRNA provides evidence that this class of snoRNAs is required for site-specific 2'-O-methylation of preribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA). Antisense sno-RNAs function through direct base-pairing interactions with pre-rRNA. The antisense element, together with the D or D' box of the snoRNA, provide the information necessary to select the target nucleotide for the methyltransfer reaction. The conclusion that sno-RNAs function in covalent modification of the sugar moieties of ribonucleotides demonstrates that eukaryotic small nuclear RNAs have a more versatile cellular function than earlier anticipated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism
  • Consensus Sequence
  • HeLa Cells / physiology
  • Humans
  • Methylation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleotides / metabolism
  • RNA Precursors / metabolism*
  • RNA, Antisense / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Nuclear / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Nuclear / physiology*
  • Ribonucleoproteins / genetics
  • Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism
  • Ribose / genetics*
  • Ribose / metabolism
  • Yeasts / genetics
  • tRNA Methyltransferases / metabolism

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Nucleotides
  • RNA Precursors
  • RNA, Antisense
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Small Nuclear
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • fibrillarin
  • Ribose
  • tRNA Methyltransferases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/X96640
  • GENBANK/X96641
  • GENBANK/X96642
  • GENBANK/X96643
  • GENBANK/X96644
  • GENBANK/X96645
  • GENBANK/X96646
  • GENBANK/X96647
  • GENBANK/X96648
  • GENBANK/X96649
  • GENBANK/X96650
  • GENBANK/X96651
  • GENBANK/X96652
  • GENBANK/X96653
  • GENBANK/X96654
  • GENBANK/X96655
  • GENBANK/X96656
  • GENBANK/X96657
  • GENBANK/X96658
  • GENBANK/X96659
  • GENBANK/X96660
  • GENBANK/X96661
  • GENBANK/X96662