32S pre-rRNA processing: a dynamic model for interaction with U3RNA and structural rearrangements of spacer regions

Abstract

A model of rearrangement of 32S pre-rRNA during processing was proposed. The first step of these events is the cotranscriptional interaction of the 3′-half of 5.8S rRNA and adjacent part of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) with the 3′-part of the small nucleolar U3RNA from its 155th to 215th nucleotides (numbered for a rat U3RNA). This interaction prevents formation of intramolecular double-stranded structure between 5′-and 3′-end sequences of 5.8S rRNA. The second step is the appearance of extended hairpin structures in the ITS-2, which leads to a compactisation of the entire 32S-pre-rRNA molecule and to the complex formation between 5.8S rRNA and 28S rRNA sequences as the result of U3RNA displacing. After elimination of ITS-2 sequences from 32S pre-rRNA this complex can be included into ribosomes.