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Biogenesis, Structure and Function of Small Nucleolar RNAs

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RNA Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Part of the book series: NATO Science Series ((ASHT,volume 70))

Abstract

Synthesis, maturation and packaging of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) into ribosomal particles in eukaryotic cells takes place in the nucleolus. Ribosomal RNA genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase I into long 35/47S precursors (pre-rRNAs) which are processed into mature 18S, 5.8S and 25/28S rRNAs. The maturation process involves a large number of RNA intermediates and cleavage events which may follow alternative pathways. In addition, rRNAs are extensively modified: methylation of the 2’-hydroxyl group of sugar residues (2’-O-methylation) and conversion of uridines to pseudouridines (ψ) (pseudouridylation) are by far the most frequent modifications. Processing of pre-rRNA occurs concomitantly with packaging of RNA into ribonucleoprotein structures containing tens of ribosomal proteins and also nucleolar protein associating only transiently with the nascent ribosomes [for review, see 24, 25, 37, 41].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Friedrich Miescher-Institut, P.O. Box 2543, 4002, Basel, Switzerland

    Witold Filipowicz, Pawel Pelczar, Vanda Pogacic & François Dragon

Authors
  1. Witold Filipowicz
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  2. Pawel Pelczar
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  3. Vanda Pogacic
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  4. François Dragon
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland

    Jan Barciszewski

  2. Institute of Molecular and Structural Biology, University of Aarhus, Denmark

    Brian F. C. Clark

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© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Filipowicz, W., Pelczar, P., Pogacic, V., Dragon, F. (1999). Biogenesis, Structure and Function of Small Nucleolar RNAs. In: Barciszewski, J., Clark, B.F.C. (eds) RNA Biochemistry and Biotechnology. NATO Science Series, vol 70. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4485-8_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4485-8_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-5862-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-4485-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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