Fig. 5. Deletion of ybeX leads to the accumulation of rRNA fragments during the stationary phase. (A ) rRNA operon scheme with locations of the Cy5-labelled oligonucleotides indicated as red stars. (B-E ) Hot-phenol extracted total RNA samples from the exponential and stationary phase cultures of wild type, ΔybeY ,ΔybeZ , and ΔybeX strains were separated on 1.5% denaturing agarose gel for Northern blotting. The cells were grown in LB medium at 37°C with aeration. The membrane was hybridized with 16S-EUB (B), 23S h25 (C), 17S 5‘-end (D), and 17S 3‘-end (E) rRNA targeting fluorescent oligos.