Abstract
A computational screen for novel small nucleolar RNAs in Drosophila melanogaster uncovered 15 novel snoRNAs and snoRNA-like long non-coding RNAs. In contrast to earlier surverys, the novel sequences are mostly poorly conserved and originate from unusual genomic locations. The majority derive from precurors antisense to well-known protein-coding genes, and four of the candidates are produced from exon-coding regions. Only a minority of the new sequences appears to have canonical target sites in ribosomal or small nuclear RNAs. Taken together, these evolutionary young, poorly conserved, and genomically atypical sequences point at a class of snoRNA-like transcripts with predominantly regulatory functions in the fruit fly genome.
Highlights
IntroductionSmall nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are among the few ancient non-coding RNA (ncRNA) classes that predate the radiation of Eukaryotes
Small nucleolar RNAs are among the few ancient non-coding RNA classes that predate the radiation of Eukaryotes
We have conducted a computational survey for novel snoRNAs in D. melanogaster using a combination of established methods
Summary
Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are among the few ancient non-coding RNA (ncRNA) classes that predate the radiation of Eukaryotes. Their biology has been well studied and often reviewed [1,2,3,4]. There are two main types of snoRNAs, distinguished by characteristic sequence boxes as well as characteristic secondary structures: Box C/D snoRNAs, with two short motifs C (RUGAUGA) and D (CUGA), and a short helix connecting the 30 - with the 50 -end, direct 20 -O-methylation of nucleotides. H/ACA snoRNPs catalyze the specific conversion of uridines into pseudouridines. Both classes of snoRNAs primarily target ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and spliceosomal small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), thereby influencing stability, folding, and interactions of their targets
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