Control points in eucaryotic ribosome biogenesis

Abstract

Ribosome biogenesis in eucaryotic cells involves the coordinated synthesis of four rRNA species, transcribed by RNA polymerase I (18S, 28S, 5.8S) and RNA polymerase III (5S), and approximately 80 ribosomal proteins translated from mRNAs synthesized by RNA polymerase II. Assembly of the ribosomal subunits in the nucleolus, the site of 45S rRNA precursor gene transcription, requires the movement of 5S rRNA and ribosomal proteins from the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm, respectively, to this structure. To integrate these events and ensure the balanced production of individual ribosomal components, different strategies have been developed by eucaryotic organisms in response to a variety of physiological changes. This review presents an overview of the mechanisms modulating the production of ribosomal precursor molecules and the rate of ribosome biogenesis in various biological systems.