SnoRNAs as tools for RNA cleavage and modification
Ni, J.; Samarsky, D.A.; Liu, B.; Ferbeyre, G.; Cedergren, R.; Fournier, M.J.
Nucleic Acids Symposium Series 36: 61-63
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0261-3166 PMID: 9478207 Document Number: 478948
Eukaryotic small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) influence rRNA synthesis at two stages: nucleolytic processing and selection of nucleotides to be ribose methylated (Nm) or converted to pseudouridine (psi). The two modification functions and some processing activities involve direct base pairing of snoRNA with rRNA. In addition to rRNA-targeting sequences, snoRNA function depends on the presence of conserved box elements involved in snoRNA synthesis and localization. The present investigation is directed at using snoRNAs as tools for two purposes: 1) introducing nucleotide modifications into novel sites in rRNA and other snoRNAs, and: 2) targeting nucleolar RNAs for destruction using snoRNA:ribozyme chimers ('snorbozymes'). Early results demonstrate that snoRNAs can be used for both applications.