A comprehensive database for the small nucleolar RNAs from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are involved in cleavage of rRNA, modificati on of rRNA nucleotides and, perhaps, other aspects of ribosome biogenesis i n eukaryotic cells. Scores of snoRNAs have been discovered in recent years from Various eukaryotes, and the total number is predicted to be up to 200 different snoRNA species per individual organism. We have created a compreh ensive database for snoRNAs from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which a llows easy access to detailed information about each species known (almost 70 snoRNAs are featured). The database consists of three major parts: (i) a utilities section; (ii) a master table; and (iii) a collection of tables f or the individual snoRNAs, The utilities section provides an introduction t o the database. The master table lists all known S,cerevisiae snoRNAs and t heir major properties, Information in the individual tables includes: alter nate names, size, family classification, genomic organization, sequences (w ith major features identified), GenBank accession numbers, occurrence of ho mologues, gene disruption phenotypes, functional properties and associated RNAs and proteins. All information is accompanied with appropriate literatu re references. The database is available on the World Wide Web (http://www. bio.umass.edu/biochem/ rna-sequence/Yeast_snoRNA_Database/snoRNA_DataBase,h tml), and should be useful for a wide range of snoRNA studies.