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Plant dicistronic tRNA–snoRNA genes: a new mode of expression of the small nucleolar RNAs processed by RNase Z
Author(s) -
Kruszka Katarzyna,
Barneche Fredy,
Guyot Romain,
Ailhas Jérôme,
Meneau Isabelle,
Schiffer Steffen,
Marchfelder Anita,
Echeverría Manuel
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/cdg040
Subject(s) - biology , humanities , gene , genetics , art
Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) guiding modifications of ribosomal RNAs and other RNAs display diverse modes of gene organization and expression depending on the eukaryotic system: in animals most are intron encoded, in yeast many are monocistronic genes and in plants most are polycistronic (independent or intronic) genes. Here we report an unprecedented organization: plant dicistronic tRNA–snoRNA genes. In Arabidopsis thaliana we identified a gene family encoding 12 novel box C/D snoRNAs (snoR43) located just downstream from tRNA Gly genes. We confirmed that they are transcribed, probably from the tRNA gene promoter, producing dicistronic tRNA Gly –snoR43 precursors. Using transgenic lines expressing a tagged tRNA–snoR43.1 gene we show that the dicistronic precursor is accurately processed to both snoR43.1 and tRNA Gly . In addition, we show that a recombinant RNase Z, the plant tRNA 3′ processing enzyme, efficiently cleaves the dicistronic precursor in vitro releasing the snoR43.1 from the tRNA Gly . Finally, we describe a similar case in rice implicating a tRNA Met‐e expressed in fusion with a novel C/D snoRNA, showing that this mode of snoRNA expression is found in distant plant species.