Identification of 5 S and 5.8 S ribosomal RNA molecules and their genes in Plasmodium berghei.

The ribosomes of Plasmodium berghei contain two small RNA molecules approximately 150 and 120 bases long. These correspond in size to 5.8 and 5 S RNA molecules found in the cytoplasmic ribosomes of eukaryotic cells. Segments homologous to the 5.8 S RNA are present in each of the four ribosomal RNA gene units. Restriction fragments which span the region between the coding areas of the two major ribosomal RNA molecules hybridize to 5.8 S RNA, indicating that the gene is located between the small and large ribosomal RNA genes. The gene(s) for the 5 S RNA is not associated with any of the four ribosomal RNA gene units.