Ribosomal RNA Processing 36 Homolog (RRP36)

RRP36 functions at an early stage in the processing of 35S preribosomal RNA into the mature 18S species. By searching a database for orthologs of yeast Rrp36, followed by PCR amplification, Gerus et al. (2010) cloned human RRP36. The deduced 259-amino acid protein contains a nuclear localization signal and shares 21% amino acid identity with yeast Rrp36. Fluorescence-tagged RRP36 localized to the nucleus of HeLa cells, with concentration in nucleoli. Database analysis revealed RRP36 orthologs in all eukaryotic species, but not in bacteria or archeae.

Using RNA interference, Gerus et al. (2010) showed that knockdown of RRP36 in HeLa cells and yeast interfered with an early stage in the processing of preribosomal RNA.