Rrs1p, a ribosomal protein L11-binding protein, is required for nuclear export of the 60S pre-ribosomal subunit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Rrs1p is a ribosomal protein L11-binding protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have obtained temperature-sensitive rrs1 mutants by random PCR mutagenesis. [(3)H]Methionine pulse-chase analysis reveals that the rrs1 mutations cause a defect in maturation of 25S rRNA. Ribosomal protein L25-enhanced green fluorescent protein, a reporter of the 60S ribosomal subunit, concentrates in the nucleus with enrichment in the nucleolus when the rrs1 mutants are shifted to the restrictive temperature. These results suggest that Rrs1p stays on the pre-60S particle from the early stage to very late stage of the large-subunit maturation and is required for export of 60S subunits from the nucleolus to the cytoplasm.