A common core RNP structure shared between the small nucleoar box C/D RNPs and the spliceosomal U4 snRNP

Cell. 2000 Oct 27;103(3):457-66. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)00137-9.

Abstract

The box C/D snoRNAs function in directing 2'-O-methylation and/or as chaperones in the processing of ribosomal RNA. We show here that Snu13p (15.5 kD in human), a component of the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP, is also associated with the box C/D snoRNAs. Indeed, genetic depletion of Snu13p in yeast leads to a major defect in RNA metabolism. The box C/D motif can be folded into a stem-internal loop-stem structure, almost identical to the 15.5 kD binding site in the U4 snRNA. Consistent with this, the box C/D motif binds Snu13p/ 15.5 kD in vitro. The similarities in structure and function observed between the U4 snRNP (chaperone for U6) and the box C/D snoRNPs raises the interesting possibility that these particles may have evolved from a common ancestral RNP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Deletion
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA, Fungal / chemistry
  • RNA, Fungal / genetics
  • RNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Nuclear / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Nuclear / genetics
  • RNA, Small Nuclear / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / genetics
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / genetics
  • Ribonucleoprotein, U4-U6 Small Nuclear / chemistry*
  • Ribonucleoprotein, U4-U6 Small Nuclear / genetics
  • Ribonucleoprotein, U4-U6 Small Nuclear / metabolism
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar / chemistry*
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar / genetics
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar / isolation & purification
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar / metabolism
  • Spliceosomes / chemistry*
  • Spliceosomes / genetics
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Yeasts / genetics
  • Yeasts / metabolism*

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • RNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Small Nuclear
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar
  • RNA, U3 small nucleolar
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribonucleoprotein, U4-U6 Small Nuclear
  • Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar
  • U4 small nuclear RNA
  • ribonucleoprotein, U3 small nucleolar