Diversity of rRNA Maturation Pathways in Archaea

Archaea, close relatives of eukaryotes, were thought to universally depend on circular intermediates to mature their ribosomal RNA. A study published in the journal RNA reveals the coexistence of maturation pathways with and without these intermediates, as well as an unprecedented structural plasticity of bulge-helix-bulge motifs, which are essential for this circularization. These findings demonstrate a new flexibility and diversity in ribosome biogenesis, opening up evolutionary perspectives.

Strauß D, Liebl M, Sharma P, Jüttner M, Reichelt R, Gorlas A, Berkemer SJ, Ferreira-Cerca S. Circular-pre-rRNA-dependent and -independent rRNA maturation pathways in Archaea. RNA. 2026 Sep 9:rna.081051.126. doi: 10.1261/rna.081051.126. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42716812.