Small nucleolar RNA SNORD18

SNORD18 (also known as U18) is a non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecule which functions in the modification of other small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). This type of modifying RNA is usually located in the nucleolus of the eukaryotic cell which is a major site of snRNA biogenesis. It is known as a small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) and also often referred to as a guide RNA.

Small nucleolar RNA SNORD18
Predicted secondary structure and sequence conservation of SNORD18
Identifiers
Symbol	SNORD18
Alt. Symbols	U18
Rfam	RF00093
Other data
RNA type	Gene; snRNA; snoRNA; CD-box
Domain(s)	Eukaryota
GO	GO:0006396 GO:0005730
SO	SO:0000593
PDB structures	PDBe

U18 belongs to the C/D box class of snoRNAs which contain the conserved sequence motifs known as the C box (UGAUGA) and the D box (CUGA). Most of the members of the box C/D family function in directing site-specific 2'-O-methylation of substrate RNAs.[1]

In humans and Xenopus laevis there are three closely related copies of U18 (called U18A, U18B, U18C) which are encoded in introns of ribosomal protein L1.[2] In yeast U18 is located in the introns of Elongation Factor 1 beta (EF1-beta). Related snoRNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice Oryza sativa have been named R63 and Z106 respectively. Factors involved in the processing of the intronic snoRNA have recently been elucidated.[3]