Identification of a 5 s RNA precursor in exponentially growing Escherichia coli cells

Abstract

Nucleotide sequence analysis of 5 s RNA-like molecules extracted from pulse-labelled, exponentially growing Escherichia coli cells shows that they have the same primary structure as “chloramphenicol 5 s RNA” isolated from chloramphenicol inhibited cells, i.e. they have the same sequence as 5 s RNA prepared from mature ribosomes except at their 5′-end where they are lengthened by 1 to 3 nucleotides. As judged from labelling kinetics and cellular localization, these RNA species behave as 5 s RNA precursors the final maturation of which would take place during or after incorporation into the larger ribosomal subunit.