The SNORD115 (H/MBII-52) and SNORD116 (H/MBII-85) gene clusters at the imprinted Prader-Willi locus generate canonical box C/D snoRNAs

Nucleic Acids Res. 2012 Aug;40(14):6800-7. doi: 10.1093/nar/gks321. Epub 2012 Apr 11.

Abstract

The imprinted Snurf-Snrpn chromosomal domain contains two large arrays of tandemly repeated, paternally expressed box C/D small-nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) genes: the SNORD115 (H/MBII-52) and SNORD116 (H/MBII-85) gene clusters believed to play key roles in the fine-tuning of serotonin receptor (5-HT2C) pre-mRNA processing and in the etiology of the Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), respectively. SNORD115 and SNORD116 were recently proposed to undergo significant conversion into shorter RNA species, the so-called psnoRNAs. Here, we provide evidence that argues against the existence of abundant psnoRNAs in human or mouse brain. Instead, we characterize a previously unsuspected low-abundance, fibrillarin-associated SNORD115-derived smaller RNA species. Based on these findings, we strongly recommend that PWS-encoded SNORD115 and SNORD116 be considered as bona fide box C/D snoRNAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Genetic Loci
  • Genomic Imprinting
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family*
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / genetics*
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / genetics*
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA, Small Nucleolar