ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA gene)

Function: - tempate for rRNA transcribed by RNA polymerase 1 - present in tandem repeats - transcription of these genes yields a large 45S pre-rRNA, which is then processed to yield the 28S, 18S, and 5.8S rRNAs - the promoter of ribosomal RNA genes spans about 150 base pairs just upstream of the transcription initiation site - promoter sequences are recognized by 2 transcription factors, UBF (upstream binding factor) & SL1 (selectivity factor 1), which bind cooperatively to the promoter & then recruit RNA polymerase 1 to form an initiation complex

Specific

45S rRNA gene 5S rRNA gene

Properties

MOTIF: transcription factor binding site transcriptional start site exon intron transcriptional termination site

References

- from the NCBI bookshelf The Cell - A Molecular Approach. 2nd ed. Cooper, Geoffrey M. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates, Inc; c2000 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=RNA%20polymerase&rid=cooper.section.980#