[Conformational isomers of rat liver 5S ribosomal RNA]

The rat liver 5S RNA when denaturated by urea or EDTA, or even without any special treatment, undergoes conformational changes leading to the formation of three electrophoretically distinct isomeres of the molecules with relative mobilities 0.39, 0.44 and 0.47. The band with the slowest mobility corresponds apparently to the native 5S RNA since it is specific for both freshy isolated and renaturated 5S RNA. Moreover, it was found that denaturation of the immobilized 5 S RNA decreases significantly its ability to form a complex with the rat liver 60S ribosomal subunit proteins L6, L7, L8, L18 and L35.