This protein is found to be part of a large ribonucleoprotein complex containing the U3 snoRNA [1]. Depletion of the Utp proteins impedes production of the 18S rRNA, indicating that they are part of the active pre-rRNA processing complex. This large RNP complex has been termed the small subunit (SSU) processome [1].

1: A large nucleolar U3 ribonucleoprotein required for 18S ribosomal RNA biogenesis. Dragon F, Gallagher JE, Compagnone-Post PA, Mitchell BM, Porwancher KA, Wehner KA, Wormsley S, Settlage RE, Shabanowitz J, Osheim Y, Beyer AL, Hunt DF, Baserga SJ; Nature 2002;0:0-0. PMID:12068309