What is the Role of the Nucleolus in rRNA Gene Activity?
The nucleolus is a prominent subnuclear structure where rRNA genes are transcribed, processed, and assembled into ribosomal subunits. It serves as the site of ribosome biogenesis. The size and number of nucleoli within a cell can indicate the level of rRNA gene activity. Cells with high protein synthesis demands, such as neurons or glandular cells, often have large and numerous nucleoli.