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. 1972 Aug;129(1):135–140. doi: 10.1042/bj1290135

Ribosomal ribonucleic acid and ribosomal precursor ribonucleic acid in Anacystis nidulans

A Szalay 1,*, D Munsche 1, R Wollgiehn 1, B Parthier 1
PMCID: PMC1174049  PMID: 4630449

Abstract

The RNA of the blue–green alga Anacystis nidulans contains three ribosomal RNA species with molecular weights of 0.56×106, 0.9×106, and 1.1×106 if the RNA is extracted in the absence of Mg2+. The 0.9×106mol.wt. rRNA is extremely slowly labelled in 32P-incorporation experiments. This rRNA may be a cleavage product of the 1.1×106mol.wt. rRNA from the ribosomes of cells in certain physiological states (e.g. light-deficiency during growth). The cleavage of the 1.1×106mol.wt. rRNA during the extraction procedure can be prevented by the addition of 10mm-MgCl2. 32P-pulse-labelling studies demonstrate the rapid synthesis of two ribosomal precursor RNA species. One precursor RNA migrating slightly slower than the 1.1×106mol.wt. rRNA appears much less stable than the other precursor RNA, which shows the electrophoretic behaviour of the 0.7×106mol.wt. rRNA. Our observations support the close relationship between bacteria and blue–green algae also with respect to rRNA maturation. The conversion of the ribosomal precursor RNA species into 0.56×106- and 1.1×106-mol.wt. rRNA species requires Mg2+ in the incubation medium.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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