Figure 8.

A schematic model of RNA processing involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of the methanogenic archaeal ribosomal protein synthesis and stoichiometry. The methanogenic archaeal genes or operons that encode ribosomal and other housekeeping proteins frequently possess a long 5΄ UTR or IGR that form complex RNA structures. RNA processing removes the bulk structure and liberates the RBS. Processing of the 5΄ UTRs enhances translation initiation, while processing of the IGRs would tune the proportional translation of the co-transcribed transcripts, thus harness the stoichiometry of the hetero-multiprotein complex like ribosome. Efficient translation also stabilizes the processed transcripts. The blue and magenta arrows specify TSS and PSS, respectively. Red box indicates RBS and Ter represents transcription terminator.