rRNA Biology

Dear Colleagues, 

Fourty years after the demonstration that ribosomes were the effectors of translation, new evidence suggests that we are entering an exciting novel ribosomal era in which the “passive” role of ribosomes in gene expression regulation is challenged.

Recent studies revealed unexpected roles for the eukaryotic ribosome in selective translational regulation. Numerous data show that eukaryotic ribosomes can vary in ribosomal protein (RP) composition and that ribosomes with different RP composition exhibit different translational activities. These observations led to the concept of specialized ribosomes, which was exposed in several reviews. Interestingly, ribosomal RNA composition was also shown to vary and to be associated with modulation of translational ribosomal activities. Therefore, regulation of rRNA biology per se could be an additional molecular mechanism to provide the eukaryotic ribosome with the structural and functional diversity required for its specialization. It seems timely to assemble current data potentially linking rRNA biology to ribosomal activities and ribosome specialization. We will review each step of rRNA biology emphasizing those that could directly impact ribosome structure and function, including rRNA evolution in terms of sequence, chemical modification and structure, transcriptomic and epigenetic regulation of rDNA expression, rRNA processing and assembly with RP and export, and rRNA chemical modifications. In addition, we will highlight several breakthrough technological developments that enabled us to revisit rRNA biology.

Hopefully, this Special Issue will shed some light on our “modern view of ribosomes” and respond to the palpable infatuation for ribosomes that is now affecting biologists outside of the field of ribosome biology.

Dr. Jean-Jacques Diaz
Guest Editors

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