Divergent functions of a ribosome maturation factor

The ribosome, the large macromolecular complex responsible for the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) into proteins, must be matured and assembled correctly for effective function. Generally, ribosome maturation and assembly involves (I) translation of ribosomal proteins, and transcription and processing of ribosomal RNA (rRNA); (II) modification of ribosomal proteins and rRNA; (III) shaping and remodeling of rRNA in parallel with ribosomal protein recruitment (1). These processes are reliant on assembly factors that include nucleases, rRNA-modifying enzymes, GTPases, RNA helicases and chaperones (1,2). Dysregulation of this process has been implicated in a wide variety of human diseases.