Arraiano, CecíliaAndrade, Josédos Santos, Ricardo F.2020-03-062022-02-282019-022018-12http://hdl.handle.net/10362/93883Ribosome biogenesis is a complex process involving multiple factors. The work described here is primarily centered in the study of ribosomal RNA, highlighting its central role in translation regulation. We have uncovered new regulators involved in rRNA processing, folding and degradation pathways. For the first time, we demonstrate that the widely conserved RNA chaperone Hfq, mostly known as the sRNA-mRNA matchmaker, acts as a ribosomal assembly factor in Escherichia coli, affecting rRNA processing, ribosome levels, translation efficiency and accuracy. This function is suggested to be independent of its activity as sRNA-regulator.(...)engRNARibosomedoctoral thesis