EXTRARIBOSOMAL FUNCTIONS OF RIBOSOMAL-PROTEINS

The discovery of DNA-binding motifs in ribosomal proteins has led to t he conjecture that the transition of the ribosome from an RNA to an RN P machine occurred by adding pre-existing proteins, Supportive, but ci rcumstantial, evidence for the hypothesis is adduced from the finding that many ribosomal proteins have a second function apart from the par ticle. These extraribosomal functions are enumerated.