Small nucleolar RNA SNORD102

In molecular biology, snoRNA U102 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.
snoRNA U102 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.
U102 was identified by computational screening of the introns of ribosomal protein genes for conserved C/D box sequence motifs and expression experimentally verified by northern blotting. It is found within intron 2 of the L21 ribosomal protein gene. The H/ACA box snoRNA ACA27 is found in the same host gene within a different intron.
U102 is predicted to guide the 2'O-ribose methylation of 28S ribosomal RNA residue G4020.