CNOT1 contributes to small nuclear non-coding RNA maturation

CCR4-NOT complex is involved in transcription, translation, and mRNA degradation. As of yet, it is unknown if CCR4-NOT has additional functions beyond those. It is possible to predict unknown functions of genes by using co-expressed network analysis. Here we show that all CCR4-NOT subunits highly co-express with modulators of small nuclear noncoding RNA biogenesis, predicting that CCR4-NOT regulates the maturation of small nuclear noncoding RNA. In agreement with this, knockdown of CNOT1 decreased the expression levels of small nuclear non-coding RNAs independent of the canonical function of CCR4-NOT complex. However, the reduced expression was rescued by the co-suppression of RBM7, mediating exosomal degradation of misprocessed small RNA. These results suggest that CNOT1 contributes to small nuclear non-coding RNA maturation.