Function
During stationary phase, converts 70S ribosomes to an immature dimeric form (90S ribosomes) which are converted to inactive 100S ribosomes (a process called ribosomal hibernation) by the hibernation promoting factor HPF (PubMed:7677746, PubMed:18174192). Inactivates ribosomes by covering the peptidyl transferase (PTase) center of the 23S rRNA and the entrance of peptide exit tunnel (PubMed:12473202, PubMed:15066119). However crystallization with T.thermophilus 70S ribosomes shows it binds near the 3'-end of the 16S rRNA near the anti-Shine-Dalgarno sequence, where it would sterically hinder translation inititation (PubMed:22605777). In this crystal binding of RMF induces movement of the 30S head domain away from the rest of the ribosome, presumably so they would more easily form dimers (PubMed:22605777). Also involved in protection against heat stress, but this role is not dependent on the maintenance of ribosome dimers (PubMed:15278243).