Efficient RNA 2′‐O‐methylation requires juxtaposed and symmetrically assembled archaeal box C/D and C′/D′ RNPs

Box C/D ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes direct the nucleotide-specific 2′-O-methylation of ribonucleotide sugars in target RNAs. In vitro assembly of an archaeal box C/D sRNP using recombinant core proteins L7, Nop56/58 and fibrillarin has yielded an RNA:protein enzyme that guides methylation from both the terminal box C/D core and internal C′/D′ RNP complexes. Reconstitution of sRNP complexes containing only box C/D or C′/D′ motifs has demonstrated that the terminal box C/D RNP is the minimal methylation-competent particle. However, efficient ribonucleotide 2′-O-methylation requires that both the box C/D and C′/D′ RNPs function within the full-length sRNA molecule. In contrast to the eukaryotic snoRNP complex, where the core proteins are distributed asymmetrically on the box C/D and C′/D′ motifs, all three archaeal core proteins bind both motifs symmetrically. This difference in core protein distribution is a result of altered RNA-binding capabilities of the archaeal and eukaryotic core protein homologs. Thus, evolution of the box C/D nucleotide modification complex has resulted in structurally distinct archaeal and eukaryotic RNP particles.