A human snoRNA with microRNA-like functions

Christine Ender; Azra Krek; Marc R Friedländer; Michaela Beitzinger; Lasse Weinmann; Wei Chen; Sébastien Pfeffer; Nikolaus Rajewsky; Gunter Meister

doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2008.10.017

A human snoRNA with microRNA-like functions

Mol Cell. 2008 Nov 21;32(4):519-28. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2008.10.017.

Authors

Christine Ender¹, Azra Krek, Marc R Friedländer, Michaela Beitzinger, Lasse Weinmann, Wei Chen, Sébastien Pfeffer, Nikolaus Rajewsky, Gunter Meister

Affiliation

¹ Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Laboratory of RNA Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.

PMID: 19026782
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2008.10.017

Abstract

Small noncoding RNAs function in concert with Argonaute (Ago) proteins to regulate gene expression at the level of transcription, mRNA stability, or translation. Ago proteins bind small RNAs and form the core of silencing complexes. Here, we report the analysis of small RNAs associated with human Ago1 and Ago2 revealed by immunoprecipitation and deep sequencing. Among the reads, we find small RNAs originating from the small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) ACA45. Moreover, processing of ACA45 requires Dicer activity but is independent of Drosha/DGCR8. Using bioinformatic prediction algorithms and luciferase reporter assays, we uncover the mediator subunit CDC2L6 as one potential mRNA target of ACA45 small RNAs, suggesting a role for ACA45-processing products in posttranscriptional gene silencing. We further identify a number of human snoRNAs with microRNA (miRNA)-like processing signatures. We have, therefore, identified a class of small RNAs in human cells that originate from snoRNAs and can function like miRNAs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Algorithms
Argonaute Proteins
Cell Line
Computational Biology / methods
DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
Endoribonucleases / metabolism
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / metabolism
Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / metabolism
Genes, Reporter
Humans
Kidney / cytology
Luciferases / metabolism
MicroRNAs / genetics
MicroRNAs / metabolism*
Models, Biological
RNA Interference
RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
RNA, Small Nucleolar / genetics
RNA, Small Nucleolar / metabolism*
RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / genetics
RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / metabolism
Ribonuclease III

Substances

AGO1 protein, human
AGO2 protein, human
Argonaute Proteins
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2
Eukaryotic Initiation Factors
MicroRNAs
RNA, Small Interfering
RNA, Small Nucleolar
RNA-Induced Silencing Complex
Luciferases
Endoribonucleases
DICER1 protein, human
Ribonuclease III
DEAD-box RNA Helicases