Small nucleolar RNA-derived microRNA
In molecular biology, small nucleolar RNA derived microRNAs are
introns
via a different pathway which bypasses Pasha and Drosha. Some microRNAs are also known to be derived from small nucleolar RNA.
Discovery
Small nucleolar RNA derived microRNA was first described in 2008. The
expression of variant surface proteins.[2]
Also in 2008, a small RNA was found to be cleaved from SCARNA15, a Human small Cajal body-specific RNA, by Dicer. This small RNA was found to function as a microRNA. Potential microRNAs were also identified in several other Human snoRNAs.[3]
Giardia snoRNA-derived miRNAs
Giardia lamblia produces at least 20 snoRNAs.box C/D snoRNAs from Giardia lamblia:
- The microRNA miR2 is derived from the snoRNA GlsR17 and may regulate the expression of variant surface proteins[2]
- The microRNA miR3 is derived from the snoRNA GlsR16[2]
- The microRNA miR5 is derived from the snoRNA GlsR2. MiR5 may regulate the expression of several different genes, including four kinases and three variant surface proteins. The variant surface proteins are different from those potentially regulated by miR2[6]
- The microRNA miR6 is derived from the snoRNA GlsR1. The predicted target sites for this miRNA include variant surface proteins[7]
- The microRNA miR10 is derived from the snoRNA GlsR8. The predicted target sites for this miRNA include variant surface proteins[7]