RNase MRP cleaves the yeast pre-rRNA at a site in internal transcribed
spacer 1 (ITS 1) and this cleavage can be reproduced in vitro by the
highly purified enzyme. Two protein components (Pop Ip and Pop2p) have
been identified which are common to yeast RNase MRP and RNase P. More
over, purified RNase P can also cleave the pre-rRNA substrate in vitro
, underlining the similarities between these particles. Genetic eviden
ce suggests that RNase MRP functionally interacts with the snoRNPs whi
ch are required for other pre-rRNA processing reactions.