Small nucleolar RNA R12

In molecular biology, Small nucleolar RNA R12 is a non-coding RNA molecule which functions in the modification of other small nuclear RNAs. 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 and also often referred to as a guide RNA.
snoR12 belongs to the C/D box class of snoRNAs which contain the conserved sequence motifs known as the C box and the D box. Most of the members of the box C/D family function in directing site-specific 2'-O-methylation of substrate RNAs.
snoR12 was identified by computational screen of the rice Oryza sativa genome and is predicted to acts as a methylation guide for 25S ribosomal RNA in plants. snoR12 has been alternatively named snoZ44 in Arabidopsis thaliana and snoZ131 in rice.