Nucleotide sequence of 5 S ribosomal ribonucleic acid of Iguana iguana.

Cell cultures of the reptile Iguana iguana have been labeled with 32PO4(3-) and the resulting radioactive 5 S rRNA isolated. Enzymatic digests of the radioactive RNA were fractionated by standard procedures, and the products of the digestions sequenced. From the sequences of the oligonucleotides produced by enzymatic digestion of the Iguana 5 S rRNA it is possible to propose a primary sequence for this RNA which differs in only two positions (2 and 25) from the sequence known for mammalian 5 S rRNAs. This sequence is closer to that of mammals than is that of any other nonmammalian species yet examined.