A bifunctional snoRNA with separable activities in guiding rRNA 2’-O-methylation and scaffolding gametogenesis effectors

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58664-y
• Publication Date: 2025-04-05T05:20:13Z
• Authors: Estelle Leroy; Drice Challal; Stéphane Pelletier; Coralie Goncalves; Alexandra Menant; Virginie Marchand; Yan Jaszczyszyn; Erwin van Dijk; Delphine Naquin; Jessica Andreani; Yuri Motorin; Benoit Palancade; Mathieu Rougemaille
• Keywords: Small nucleolar RNA

Abstract Small nucleolar RNAs are non-coding transcripts that guide chemical modifications of RNA substrates and modulate gene expression at the epigenetic post-transcriptional levels. However, extent their regulatory potential underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we identify a conserved, previously unannotated intronic C/D-box snoRNA, termed snR107 , hosted in fission yeast long mamRNA carrying two independent cellular functions. On one hand, guides site-specific 25S rRNA 2’-O-methylation promotes pre-rRNA processing 60S subunit biogenesis. other associates with gametogenic RNA-binding proteins Mmi1 Mei2, mediating reciprocal inhibition restricting meiotic during sexual differentiation. Both functions require distinct cis -motifs within including conserved guiding sequence. Together, our results position as dual regulator modification gametogenesis effectors, expanding vision on non-canonical exerted by snoRNAs cell fate decisions.