Post-transcriptional regulation of ribosome formation in the nucleus of regenerating rat liver.
Kinetic experiments on RNA labelling in vivo with [14C]orotate were performed with normal and 12h-regenerating rat liver. The specific radioactivities of nucleolar, nucleoplasmic and cytoplasmic rRNA species were analysed by computer according to the models of rRNA processing and nucleo-cytoplasmic migration given previously [Dudov, Dabeva, Hadjiolov & Todorov, Biochem. J. (1978) 171, 375-383]. The rates of formation and the half-lives of the individual pre-rRNA and rRNA species were determined in both normal and regenerating liver. The results show clearly that the formation of ribosomes in regenerating rat liver is post-transcriptionally activated: (a) the half-lives of all the nucleolar pre-rRNA and rRNA species are decreased by 30% on average; (b) the pre-rRNA processing is directed through the shortest maturation pathway: 45 S leads to 32 S + 18 S leads to 28 S; (c) the nucleo-cytoplasmic transfer of ribosomes is accelerated. As a consequence, the time for formation and appearance of ribosomes in the cytoplasm is shortened 1.5-fold for the large and 2-fold for the small subparticle. A new scheme for endonuclease cleavage of 45 S pre-rRNA is proposed, which explains the alterations in pre-rRNA processing in regenerating liver. Its validity for pre-rRNA processing in other eukaryotes is discussed. It is concluded that: (i) the control sites in the intranucleolar formation of 28 S and 18 S rRNA are the immediate precursor of 28 S rRNA, 32 S pre-rRNA, and the primary pre-rRNA, 45 S pre-rRNA, respectively; (ii) the limiting step in the post-transcriptional stages of ribosome biogenesis is the pre-rRNA maturation.
D000818:Animals; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D006207:Half-Life; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009694:Nucleic Acid Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D012322:RNA Precursors; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*
D009694:Nucleic Acid Precursors; D012322:RNA Precursors; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal