ISSN 0006-2979, Biochemistry (Moscow), 2008, Vol. 73, No. 13, pp. 1418-1437. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2008. Original Russian Text © A. V. Smirnov, N. S. Entelis, I. A. Krasheninnikov, R. Martin, I. A. Tarassov, 2008, published in Uspekhi Biologicheskoi Khimii, 2008, Vol. 48, pp. 133-180. REVIEW Specific Features of 5S rRNA Structure – Its Interactions with Macromolecules and Possible Functions A. V. Smirnov1,2*, N. S. Entelis2, I. A. Krasheninnikov1, R. Martin2, and I. A. Tarassov1 1Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; E-mail:
[email protected] 2Department of Molecular and Cellular Genetics, UMR 7156, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – Universite Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg 67084, France Received November 19, 2007 Revision received February 18, 2008 Abstract—Small non-coding RNAs are today a topic of great interest for molecular biologists because they can be regarded as relicts of a hypothetical “RNA world” which, apparently, preceded the modern stage of organic evolution on Earth. The small molecule of 5S rRNA (~120 nucleotides) is a component of large ribosomal subunits of all living beings (5S rRNAs are not found only in mitoribosomes of fungi and metazoans). This molecule interacts with various protein factors and 23S (28S) rRNA. This review contains the accumulated data to date concerning 5S rRNA structure, interactions with other bio- logical macromolecules, intracellular traffic, and functions in the cell. DOI: 10.1134/S000629790813004X Key words: 5S rRNA, structure, RNA–protein interaction, ribosome, intracellular transport Small non-coding RNAs are now a topic of interest GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT 5S rRNA for researchers as relicts of a hypothetical “RNA world” that apparently preceded the modern stage of organic 5S rRNA is a relatively small RNA molecule (~120 evolution on Earth.