snoscan

snoscan identifies genes encoding C/D box methylation guide small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) in genomic sequences to predict 2'-O-methylation guide RNAs for eukaryotic ribosomal RNA modification.

Key Features:

• Identification of C/D box snoRNAs: Predicts genes encoding C/D box methylation guide snoRNAs from genomic sequences.
• Probabilistic modeling: Employs probabilistic modeling techniques analogous to those used in speech recognition and computational linguistics.
• Genome-scale screening: Screens complete genomes, exemplified by application to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome.
• Discovery of snR50–snR71: Identified 22 snoRNAs (snR50 to snR71) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
• Assignment of methylation sites: Assigned 51 out of 55 ribose 2'-O-methylated sites in yeast rRNA to a total of 41 guide snoRNAs.
• Experimental validation: Predicted snoRNAs were confirmed by gene disruption experiments demonstrating methylation guide function.

Scientific Applications:

• Novel snoRNA discovery: Discovery of previously unidentified C/D box methylation guide snoRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
• rRNA modification mapping: Assigning ribose 2'-O-methylation sites in rRNA to specific guide snoRNAs.
• Characterizing modification landscape: Elucidating the complement of guide snoRNAs that direct rRNA 2'-O-methylation.
• Experimental prioritization: Prioritizing candidate methylation guide snoRNAs for experimental validation such as gene disruption.

Methodology:

Applies probabilistic modeling to screen genomic sequences, using models analogous to those in speech recognition and computational linguistics.