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Summary: © 1997 Oxford University Press17881794 Nucleic Acids Research, 1997, Vol. 25, No. 9
Role of the 5.8S rRNA in ribosome translocation
Sherif Abou Elela and Ross N. Nazar*
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
Received December 30, 1996; Revised and Accepted March 18, 1997
ABSTRACT
Studies on the inhibition of protein synthesis by
specific anti 5.8S rRNA oligonucleotides have sug-
gested that this RNA plays an important role in
eukaryotic ribosome function. Mutations in the 5.8S
rRNA can inhibit cell growth and compromise protein
synthesis in vitro. Polyribosomes from cells expres-
sing these mutant 5.8S rRNAs are elevated in size and
ribosome-associated tRNA. Cell free extracts from
these cells also are more sensitive to antibiotics which
act on the 60S ribosomal subunit by inhibiting elonga-
tion. The extracts are especially sensitive to cyclohexi-
mide and diphtheria toxin which act specifically to
inhibit translocation. Studies of ribosomal proteins
show no reproducible changes in the core proteins,
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