Genome Wide Computational Analysis of Small Nuclear RNA Genes for Oryza Sativa (Indica and Japonica)

Genome-wide computational analysis for small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes resulted in identification of 76 and 73 putative snRNA genes from indica and japonica rice genomes, respectively. We used the basic criteria of a minimum of 70 % sequence identity to the plant snRNA gene used for genome search, presence of conserved promoter elements: TATA box, USE motif and monocot promoter specific elements (MSPs) and extensive sequence alignment to rice / plant expressed sequence tags to denote predicted sequence as snRNA genes. Comparative sequence analysis with snRNA genes from other organisms and predicted secondary structures showed that there is overall conservation of snRNA sequence and structure with plant specific features (presence of TATA box in both polymerase II and III transcribed genes, location of USE motif upstream to the TATA box at fixed but different distance in polymerase II and polymerase III transcribed snRNA genes) and the presence of multiple monocot specific MSPs upstream to the USE motif. Detailed analysis results including all multiple sequence alignments, sequence logos, secondary structures, sequences etc are available at http://kulab.org