Figure 5.

Analysis of rRNA Accumulation in cp29a and cp31a Mutants at 23 and 8°C.

Four micrograms of total leaf RNA from wild-type and mutant plants before and after 3 weeks of cold stress were subjected to RNA gel blot analyses using probes for the 16S and 23S rRNAs (see Supplemental Table 1 online for primer sequences). Equal loading was controlled by staining the cytosolic 25S rRNA (25S) with methylene blue. Autoradiographs shown at left were prepared with plants grown at 23°C; those on the right from plants cold-treated (8°C) for 3 weeks. Cartoon: The 23S rRNA is matured into three fragments on chloroplast ribosomes by cleavage of the precursor (flashes). The probe used detects the 3′-end of the 23S rRNA and is indicated by a black bar.