Identification of a 67 kDa protein that binds specifically to the pre-rRNA primary processing site in a higher plant

In radish pre-rRNA primary processing cleavage occurs at a UUUUCGCGC element (motif P) mapped in the 5'-external transcribed spacer (Delcasso-Tremousaygue et al., 1988). Significantly, motif P is part of a cluster of homologous elements including three UUUUCCGG elements (motifs A123) and a single UUUUGCCCC element (motif B). Here we used the EMSA to identify in radish extracts an RNA-binding activity, NF C, that specifically interacts with the pre-rRNA A123BP sequence. Using different RNA probes and competitors we show that NF C recognises a 38 base RNA sequence including the 3'-end of motif A3 and motifs B and P. NF C binds to poly U, but not to poly A, poly C or poly G. Therefore we used poly (U) Sepharose chromatography as a final step to obtain pure NF C fractions. These, analysed by SDS-PAGE, revealed two major polypeptides of 67 and 60 kDa. According to UV cross-linking analysis the 67 kDa polypeptide corresponds to NF C activity, while the 60 kDa species is a proteolysed form of this protein. We also showed that NF C is enriched in nuclear extracts. Based on its stringent RNA substrate specificity and its nuclear localisation we propose that NF C is involved in pre-rRNA primary processing in plants.