Structural Probing with MNase Tethered to Ribosome Assembly Factors Resolves Flexible RNA Regions within the Nascent Pre-Ribosomal RNA.

The synthesis of ribosomes involves the correct folding of the pre-ribosomal RNA within pre-ribosomal particles. The first ribosomal precursor or small subunit processome assembles stepwise on the nascent transcript of the 35S gene. At the earlier stages, the pre-ribosomal particles undergo structural and compositional changes, resulting in heterogeneous populations of particles with highly flexible regions.