Rrp15p, a novel component of pre-ribosomal particles required for 60S ribosome subunit maturation

In eukaryotes ribosome biogenesis required that rRNAs primary transcripts are assembled in pre-ribosomal particles and processed. Protein factors and pre-ribosomal complexes involved in this complex pathway are not completely depicted. The essential ORF YPR143W encodes in yeast for an uncharacterized protein product, named here Rrp15p. Cellular function of Rrp15p has not so far defined even if nucleolar location was referred. With the aim to define the possible role of this orphan gene, we performed TAP-tagging of Rrp15p and investigated its molecular association with known pre-ribosomal complexes. Comparative sucrose gradient sedimentation analyses of yeast lysates expressing the TAP-tagged Rrp15p, strongly indicated that this protein is a component of the pre-60S particles. Northern hybridization, primer extension and functional proteomics on TAP-affinity isolated complexes proved that Rrp15p predominately associated with pre-rRNAs and proteins previously characterized as components of early pre-60S ribosomal particles. Finally, depletion of Rrp15p inhibited the accumulation of 27S and 7S pre-rRNAs and 5.8S and 25S mature rRNA. These results provide the first indication that Rrp15p is a novel factor involved in the early maturation steps of the 60S subunits. Moreover, the identification of the protein kinase CK2 in the Rrp15p-containing pre-ribosomal particles here reported, sustains the link between ribosome synthesis and cell cycle progression.