Ribonuclease III (RNase III) is the component of RNase III (IPR011907). This enzyme, which is present in all bacteria and eukaryotes, is ubiquitous and specifically cleaves double-stranded rRNA. Large precursor ribosomal RNA molecules cleave at specific sites during the processing of pre-rRNA to produce the immediate precursors of functional molecules. RNase III is also involved in the maturation and degradation of mRNA and tRNA. The protein's N-terminal two-thirds house the endonuclease domain, which consists of numerous alpha helices but lacks beta strands.