Part of the small subunit (SSU) processome, first precursor of the small eukaryotic ribosomal subunit. During the assembly of the SSU processome in the nucleolus, many ribosome biogenesis factors, an RNA chaperone and ribosomal proteins associate with the nascent pre-rRNA and work in concert to generate RNA folding, modifications, rearrangements and cleavage as well as targeted degradation of pre-ribosomal RNA by the RNA exosome . Positively regulates dimethylation of two adjacent adenosines in the loop of a conserved hairpin near the 3'-end of 18S rRNA .
Subcellular locations: Nucleus, Nucleolus
Expressed in liver, lung, spleen and kidney. Weakly expressed in thymus, testis and ovary. Weakly or not expressed in heart, brain, skeletal muscle, placenta, pancreas, prostate, small intestine, colon and peripheral blood leukocytes.