A bifunctional snoRNA with separable activities in guiding rRNA 2’-O-methylation and scaffolding gametogenesis effectors
Small nucleolar RNAs are non-coding transcripts that guide chemical modifications of RNA substrates and modulate gene expression at the epigenetic and post-transcriptional levels. However, the extent of their regulatory potential and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identify a conserved, previously unannotated intronic C/D-box snoRNA, termed snR107, hosted in the fission yeast long non-coding RNA mamRNA and carrying two independent cellular functions. On the one hand, snR107 guides site-specific 25S rRNA 2'-O-methylation and promotes pre-rRNA processing and 60S subunit biogenesis. On the other hand, snR107 associates with the gametogenic RNA-binding proteins Mmi1 and Mei2, mediating their reciprocal inhibition and restricting meiotic gene expression during sexual differentiation. Both functions require distinct cis-motifs within snR107, including a conserved 2'-O-methylation guiding sequence. Together, our results position snR107 as a dual regulator of rRNA modification and gametogenesis effectors, expanding our vision on the non-canonical functions exerted by snoRNAs in cell fate decisions.
Authors
- Erwin van Dijk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3381-6551)
- Benoı̂t Palancade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3894-9735)
- Delphine Naquin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9174-4686)
- Estelle Leroy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7870-9185)
- Virginie Marchand (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8537-1139)
- Mathieu Rougemaille (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9675-3888)
- Alexandra Menant
- Coralie Goncalves
- Jessica Andréani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4435-9093)
- Stéphane Pelletier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6161-0118)
- Yan Jaszczyszyn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2269-677X)
- Yuri Motorin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8018-334X)
- Drice Challal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5867-8581)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (FR)
- Institut Jacques Monod (FR)
- CEA Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Ingénierie Moléculaire et Physiopathologie Articulaire (FR)
- Expression Génétique Microbienne (FR)
- Université de Lorraine (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-04-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58664-y
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.22
Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Fondation ARC pour la Recherche sur le Cancer
- Ministère de l'Education Nationale, de l'Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche
- Université Paris-Saclay