U3 snoRNA Research Articles

Mutational analysis of an essential binding site for the U3 snoRNA in the 5' external transcribed spacer of yeast pre-rRNA.

The small nucleolar RNA U3 is essential for viability in yeast. We have previously shown that U3 can be cross-linked in vivo to the pre-rRNA in the 5' external transcribed spacer (ETS), at +470. This ETS region contains 10 nucleotides of perfect complementarity to U3. In a genetic background where the mutated rDNA is the only transcribed rDNA repeat, the deletion of the 10 nt complementary to U3 is lethal. Cells lacking the U3 complementary sequence in pre-rRNA fail to accumulate 18S rRNA: pre-rRNA processing is inhibited at sites A0 in the 5' ETS, A1 at the 5' end of 18S rRNA and A2 in ITS1. We show here that effects on processing at site A0 are specific for U3 and its associated proteins and are not seen on depletion of other snoRNP components. The deletion of the sequence complementary to U3 in the ETS therefore mimics all the known effects of the depletion of U3 in trans. This indicates that we have identified an essential U3 binding site on pre-rRNA, required in cis for the maturation of 18S rRNA.

Assembly of snRNP-containing coiled bodies is regulated in interphase and mitosis--evidence that the coiled body is a kinetic nuclear structure.

Coiled bodies (CBs) are nuclear organelles in which splicing snRNPs concentrate. While CBs are sometimes observed in association with the nucleolar periphery, they are shown not to contain 5S or 28S rRNA or the U3 snoRNA. This argues against CBs playing a role in rRNA maturation or transport as previously suggested. We present evidence here that CBs are kinetic structures and demonstrate that the formation of snRNP-containing CBs is regulated in interphase and mitosis. The coiled body antigen, p80 coilin, was present in all cell types studied, even when CBs were not prominent. Striking changes in the formation of CBs could be induced by changes in cellular growth temperature without a concomitant change in the intracellular p80 coilin level. During mitosis, CBs disassemble, coinciding with a mitotic-specific phosphorylation of p80 coilin. Coilin is shown to be a phosphoprotein that is phosphorylated on at least two additional sites during mitosis. CBs reform in daughter nuclei after a lag period during which they are not detected. CBs are thus, dynamic nuclear organelles and we propose that cycling interactions of splicing snRNPs with CBs may be important for their participation in the processing or transport of pre-mRNA in mammalian cells.

Isolation of U3 snoRNP from CHO cells: a novel 55 kDa protein binds to the central part of U3 snoRNA.

U3 snoRNP, the most abundant of the small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein particles (snoRNPs), has previously been demonstrated to participate in pre-rRNA maturation. Here we report the purification of U3 snoRNP from CHO cells using anti-m3G-immunoaffinity and mono Q anion-exchange chromatography. Isolated U3 snoRNPs contain three novel proteins, of 15, 50 and 55 kDa respectively. These proteins may represent core U3 snoRNP proteins whose binding mediates the association of other proteins, such as fibrillarin, that are lost during purification. Using a rabbit antiserum raised against the 55 kDa protein, and an in vitro reconstitution assay, we have localised the 55 kDa protein binding site on the U3 snoRNA. Stable binding of the 55 kDa protein requires sequences located between nucleotides 97 and 204 of the human U3 snoRNA, including the evolutionarily conserved B and C sequence motifs.

Snurposomes and Coiled Bodies

In the GV of amphibian oocytes, the splicing snRNPs (U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6) occur on most of the lampbrush chromosome loops in association with the nascent transcripts. They also occur in thousands of small extrachromosomal bodies (1-4 microns in diameter) designated B snurposomes. U7 snRNA, which is involved in processing the 3' end of histone pre-mRNAs, occurs in a few dozen extrachromosomal bodies (1-20 microns in diameter) called C snurposomes. C snurposomes often have B snurposomes attached to their surface and B-like inclusions; these compound structures are known as spheres or sphere organelles. One or two sphere organelles are attached to the lampbrush chromosomes at the histone gene loci. Two snRNAs (or snoRNAs) known to be involved in pre-rRNA processing (U3 and U8) occur in the 1000 or so extrachromosomal nucleoli of the GV. We looked for a snurposome that might contain U3 and U8 but not rDNA or rRNA. We were unable to find such a snurposome, but we did identify a hitherto unrecognized population of minute nucleoli in the size range of B snurposomes. Prenucleolar bodies in telophase/early interphase nuclei meet the definition of a pre-rRNA snurposome in that they contain U3 snoRNA and fibrillarin (and probably other processing components) but lack rDNA and do not synthesize rRNA. The structures previously identified as prenucleolar bodies in pronuclei formed in vitro in Xenopus egg extracts share many components with coiled bodies from HeLa nuclei.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cap structure of U3 small nucleolar RNA in animal and plant cells is different. gamma-Monomethyl phosphate cap structure in plant RNA.

U3 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) is an abundant small RNA involved in the processing of pre-ribosomal RNA of eukaryotic cells. U3 snoRNA has been previously characterized from several sources, including human, rat, mouse, frog, fruit fly, dinoflagellates, slime mold, and yeast; in all these organisms, U3 snoRNA contains trimethylguanosine cap structure. In all instances where investigated, the trimethylguanosine-capped snRNAs including U3 snoRNA, are synthesized by RNA polymerase II. However, in higher plants, the U3 snoRNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase III and contains a cap structure different from trimethylguanosine (Kiss, T., and Solymosy, F. (1990) Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 1941-1949; Marshallsay, C., Kiss, T., and Filipowicz, W. (1990) Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 3451-3458; Kiss, T., Marshallsay, C., and Filipowicz, W. (1991) Cell 65, 517-526). In this study, we present evidence that cowpea and, most likely, tomato plant U3 snoRNA contains a methyl-pppA cap structure. These data show that the same U3 snoRNA contains different cap structures in different species and suggest that the kind of cap structure that an uridylic acid-rich small nuclear RNA contains is dependent on the RNA polymerase responsible for its synthesis. In vitro synthesized plant U3 snoRNA, with pppA or pppG as its 5' end, was converted to methyl-pppA/G cap structure in vitro when incubated with extracts prepared from wheat germ or HeLa cells. These data show that the capping machinery is conserved in organisms as evolutionarily distant as plants and mammals. Nucleotides 1-45 of tomato U3 snoRNA, which are capable of forming a stem-loop structure, are sufficient to direct the methyl cap formation in vitro.