The Nucleotide Sequences of 5.8‐S Ribosomal RNA from Xenopus laevis and Xenopus borealis

Abstract

The nucleotide sequence of 5.8‐S rRNA from Xenopus luevis is given; it differs by a CU transition at position 140 from the 5.8‐S rRNA of Xenopus borealis. The sequence contains two completely modified and two partially modified residues. Three different 5′ nucleotides are found: pU‐C‐G (0.4) pC‐G (0.2) and pG (0.4). The 3′ terminus is C not U as in all other 5.8‐S sequences so far determined. The X. laevis sequence differs from the mammalian and turtle sequences by five and six residue changes respectively. A ribonuclease‐resistant hairpin loop is a principle feature of secondary structure models proposed for this molecule. Sequence heterogeneity may occur at one position at a very low level (∼ 0.01) in X. laevis 5.8‐S rRNA while none was detected in X. borealis or HeLa cell 5.8‐S rRNA. Copyright © 1978, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved