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Publication Abstract from PubMed

Box C/D RNAs guide site-specific 2'-O-methylation of RNAs in archaea and eukaryotes. The defining feature of methylation guide RNAs is two sets of box C and D motifs that form kink-turn structures specifically recognized by L7Ae family proteins. Here, we engineered a new type of methylation guides that lack C/D motifs and require no L7Ae for assembly and function. We determined a crystal structure of a bipartite C/D-free guide RNA in complex with Nop5, fibrillarin and substrate in the active form at 2.2 A resolution. The stems of new guide RNAs functionally replace C/D motifs in Nop5 binding, precisely placing the substrate for site-specific modification. We also found that the bipartite architecture and association of L7Ae with C/D motifs enhance modification when association of guide RNAs or substrates is weak. Our study provides insights into the variations, robustness and possible evolutionary path of methylation guide RNAs.

Methylation guide RNAs without box C/D motifs.,Wang J, Yang Z, Ye K RNA. 2022 Sep 20. pii: rna.079379.122. doi: 10.1261/rna.079379.122. PMID:36127125^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.