Homology between 5S rRNA and other rRNA gene sequences in rice

Abstract

The 5 S rRNA from rice embryos readily hybridized with the 17 S and 25 S rRNA genes. Computer anal. of the 5 S rRNA gene sequences of rice variety IR20 and 17 S and 25 S rRNA gene sequences of rice variety Mangetsumochi revealed the presence of 39 hexa, 4 hepta, and 2 octa nucleotide homologies between 5 S and 17 S rRNA genes and 48 hexa, 11 hepta, 6 octa and 1 nano nucleotide homologies between 5 S and 25 S rRNA genes. These homologous boxes are spread throughout the length of the genes. There was no hybridization between 5 S rRNA and 5.8 S rRNA genes, though a hexa and a hepta nucleotide sequence homologies are found between them. This suggested that \geq1 hepta nucleotide sequence homol. is required for RNA-DNA hybridization to occur.