Plant dicistronic tRNA-snoRNA genes: a new mode of expression of the small nucleolar RNAs processed by RNase Z

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) guiding modifications of ribosomal RNAs and other RNAs display diverse modes of gene organization and expression depending on the eukaryotic system: in animals most are intron encoded, in yeast many are monocistronic genes and in plants most are polycistronic (independent or intronic) genes. Here we report an unprecedented organization: plant dicistronic tRNA-snoRNA genes. In Arabidopsis thaliana we identified a gene family encoding 12 novel box C/D snoRNAs (snoR43) located just downstream from tRNA(Gly) genes. We confirmed that they are transcribed, probably from the tRNA gene promoter, producing dicistronic tRNA(Gly)-snoR43 precursors. Using transgenic lines expressing a tagged tRNA-snoR43.1 gene we show that the dicistronic precursor is accurately processed to both snoR43.1 and tRNA(Gly). In addition, we show that a recombinant RNase Z, the plant tRNA 3' processing enzyme, efficiently cleaves the dicistronic precursor in vitro releasing the snoR43.1 from the tRNA(Gly). Finally, we describe a similar case in rice implicating a tRNA(Met-e) expressed in fusion with a novel C/D snoRNA, showing that this mode of snoRNA expression is found in distant plant species.