Small nucleolar RNA SNORD18

Small nucleolar RNA SNORD18
Predicted secondary structure and sequence conservation of SNORD18
Identifiers
Symbol SNORD18
Alt. Symbols U18
Rfam RF00093
Other data
RNA type Gene; snRNA; snoRNA; CD-box
Domain(s) Eukaryota
GO 0006396 0005730
SO 0000593

SNORD18 (also known as U18) is a non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecule which functions in the modification of other small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). This type of modifiying RNA is usually located in the nucleolus of the eukaryotic cell which is a major site of snRNA biogenesis. It is known as a small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) and also often referred to as a guide RNA.

U18 belongs to the C/D box class of snoRNAs which contain the conserved sequence motifs known as the C box (UGAUGA) and the D box (CUGA). Most of the members of the box C/D family function in directing site-specific 2'-O-methylation of substrate RNAs.[1]

In humans and Xenopus laevis there are three closely related copies of U18 (called U18A, U18B, U18C) which are encoded in introns of ribosomal protein L1.[2] In yeast U18 is located in the introns of Elongation Factor 1 beta (EF1-beta). Related snoRNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice Oryza sativa have been named R63 and Z106 respectively. Factors involved in the processing of the intronic snoRNA have recently been elucidated.[3]

References

  1. Galardi, S.; Fatica, A.; Bachi, A.; Scaloni, A.; Presutti, C.; Bozzoni, I. (October 2002). "Purified Box C/D snoRNPs Are Able to Reproduce Site-Specific 2'-O-Methylation of Target RNA in Vitro". Molecular and Cellular Biology 22 (19): 6663–6668. doi:10.1128/MCB.22.19.6663-6668.2002. PMC 134041. PMID 12215523.
  2. Prislei S, Michienzi A, Presutti C, Fragapane P, Bozzoni I (1993). "Two different snoRNAs are encoded in introns of amphibian and human L1 ribosomal protein genes". Nucleic Acids Res. 21 (25): 5824–30. doi:10.1093/nar/21.25.5824. PMC 310460. PMID 7507233.
  3. Giorgi C, Fatica A, Nagel R, Bozzoni I (2001). "Release of U18 snoRNA from its host intron requires interaction of Nop1p with the Rnt1p endonuclease". EMBO J. 20 (23): 6856–65. doi:10.1093/emboj/20.23.6856. PMC 125767. PMID 11726521.

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