Ribosomal Protein L1 (RPL1)

Ribosomal protein L1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae binds 5S rRNA and can be released from intact 60S ribosomal subunits as an L1-5S ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particle.

RPL1 is an essential single-copy gene. A conditional null mutant in which the only copy of RPL1 is under control of the repressible GAL1 promoter was constructed. Depletion of L1 causes instability of newly synthesized 5S rRNA in vivo. Cells depleted of L1 no longer assemble 60S ribosomal subunits, indicating that L1 is required for assembly of stable 60S ribosomal subunits but not 40S ribosomal subunits. An L1-5S RNP particle not associated with ribosomal particles was detected by coimmunoprecipitation of L1 and 5S rRNA.