Small nucleolar RNA SNORD18

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 [cite journal | last = Galardi | first = S | coauthors = Fatica A, Bachi A, Scaloni A, Presutti C, Bozzoni I | year = 2002 | title = Purified box C/D snoRNPs are able to reproduce site-specific 2'-O-methylation of target RNA in vitro | journal = Mol Cell Biol | volume = 22 | pages = 6663–6668 | pmid = 12215523 | doi = 10.1128/MCB.22.19.6663-6668.2002] .

In humans and "Xenopus laevis" there three closely related copies of U18 (called U18A, U18B, U18C) which are encoded in introns of ribosomal protein L1. cite journal | author = Prislei S, Michienzi A, Presutti C, Fragapane P, Bozzoni I | title = Two different snoRNAs are encoded in introns of amphibian and human L1 ribosomal protein genes | journal = Nucleic Acids Res. | volume = 21 | issue = 25 | pages = 5824–30 | year = 1993 | pmid = 7507233 | doi = | issn = ] . 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 cite journal | author = Giorgi C, Fatica A, Nagel R, Bozzoni I | title = Release of U18 snoRNA from its host intron requires interaction of Nop1p with the Rnt1p endonuclease | journal = EMBO J. | volume = 20 | issue = 23 | pages = 6856–65 | year = 2001 | pmid = 11726521 | doi = 10.1093/emboj/20.23.6856 | issn = ] .

References

External links

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* [http://www-snorna.biotoul.fr/plus.php?id=U18A snoRNABase entry for SNORD18A]
* [http://www-snorna.biotoul.fr/plus.php?id=U18B snoRNABase entry for SNORD18B]
* [http://www-snorna.biotoul.fr/plus.php?id=U18C snoRNABase entry for SNORD18C]