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Identification of human miRNA precursors that resemble box C/D snoRNAs

There are two main classes of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs): the box C/D snoRNAs and the box H/ACA snoRNAs that function as guide RNAs to direct sequence-specific modification of rRNA precursors and other nucleolar RNA targets. A previous computational and biochemical analysis revealed a possible e...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Ono, Motoharu, Scott, Michelle S., Yamada, Kayo, Avolio, Fabio, Barton, Geoffrey J., Lamond, Angus I.
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Oxford University Press 2011
Materias:
RNA
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3089480/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21247878
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkq1355
Descripción
Sumario:There are two main classes of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs): the box C/D snoRNAs and the box H/ACA snoRNAs that function as guide RNAs to direct sequence-specific modification of rRNA precursors and other nucleolar RNA targets. A previous computational and biochemical analysis revealed a possible evolutionary relationship between miRNA precursors and some box H/ACA snoRNAs. Here, we investigate a similar evolutionary relationship between a subset of miRNA precursors and box C/D snoRNAs. Computational analyses identified 84 intronic miRNAs that are encoded within either box C/D snoRNAs, or in precursors showing similarity to box C/D snoRNAs. Predictions of the folded structures of these box C/D snoRNA-like miRNA precursors resemble the structures of known box C/D snoRNAs, with the boxes C and D often in close proximity in the folded molecule. All five box C/D snoRNA-like miRNA precursors tested (miR-27b, miR-16-1, mir-28, miR-31 and let-7g) bind to fibrillarin, a specific protein component of functional box C/D snoRNP complexes. The data suggest that a subset of small regulatory RNAs may have evolved from box C/D snoRNAs.