Long Noncoding RNAs with snoRNA Ends

• Published in: Molecular cell Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 219 - 230
• Main Authors: Yin, Qing-Fei, Yang, Li, Zhang, Yang, Xiang, Jian-Feng, Wu, Yue-Wei, Carmichael, Gordon G., Chen, Ling-Ling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 26.10.2012
• Subjects: Base Sequence; Cell Line; cell nucleolus; Cell Nucleolus - genetics; Cell Nucleolus - metabolism; Coiled Bodies - genetics; Coiled Bodies - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation; human diseases; Humans; Introns; Molecular Sequence Data; non-coding RNA; pathogenesis; Prader-Willi Syndrome - genetics; Prader-Willi Syndrome - metabolism; Repressor Proteins - genetics; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; RNA Splicing - genetics; RNA Splicing Factors; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding - metabolism; RNA, Small Nucleolar - genetics; RNA, Small Nucleolar - metabolism; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 1097-2765; 1097-4164
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2012.07.033

We describe the discovery of sno-lncRNAs, a class of nuclear-enriched intron-derived long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are processed on both ends by the snoRNA machinery. During exonucleolytic trimming, the sequences between the snoRNAs are not degraded, leading to the accumulation of lncRNAs flanked by snoRNA sequences but lacking 5′ caps and 3′ poly(A) tails. Such RNAs are widely expressed in cells and tissues and can be produced by either box C/D or box H/ACA snoRNAs. Importantly, the genomic region encoding one abundant class of sno-lncRNAs (15q11-q13) is specifically deleted in Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). The PWS region sno-lncRNAs do not colocalize with nucleoli or Cajal bodies, but rather accumulate near their sites of synthesis. These sno-lncRNAs associate strongly with Fox family splicing regulators and alter patterns of splicing. These results thus implicate a previously unannotated class of lncRNAs in the molecular pathogenesis of PWS. [Display omitted] ► Intron-derived sno-lncRNAs are processed on both ends by the snoRNA machinery ► Sno-lncRNAs are functionally distinct from classical snoRNAs ► The genomic region encoding the most abundant sno-lncRNAs is associated with PWS ► PWS region sno-lncRNAs interact with Fox2 and alter patterns of splicing