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

TY - JOUR

T1 - Identification of human miRNA precursors that resemble box C/D snoRNAs

AU - Ono,Motoharu

AU - Scott,Michelle S.

AU - Yamada,Kayo

AU - Avolio,Fabio

AU - Barton,Geoffrey J.

AU - Lamond,Angus I.

PY - 2011/5

Y1 - 2011/5

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - RNA SECONDARY STRUCTURE

KW - SMALL NUCLEOLAR RNAS

KW - HOST GENES

KW - MICRORNAS

KW - NUCLEAR

KW - CANDIDATES

KW - DYNAMICS

KW - REVEALS

KW - MOUSE

KW - CELLS

U2 - 10.1093/nar/gkq1355

DO - 10.1093/nar/gkq1355

M3 - Article

VL - 39

SP - 3879

EP - 3891

JO - Nucleic Acids Research

T2 - Nucleic Acids Research

JF - Nucleic Acids Research

SN - 0305-1048

IS - 9

ER -