Dramatic size variation of yeast mitochondrial RNAs suggests that RNase P RNAs can be quite small.
The gene coding for the AU-rich RNA required for mitochondrial RNase P activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae codes for a 490-base RNA while that in Candida glabrata codes for a 227-base RNA. We have detected a 140-nucleotide RNA coded by the mitochondrial DNA from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera by hybridization with an oligonucleotide complementary to a conserved sequence found in mitochondrial and prokaryotic RNase P RNAs. DNA sequence analysis of the mitochondrial DNA from the region coding for this RNA revealed a second conserved sequence block characteristic of RNase P RNA genes and the presence of a downstream tRNA(Pro) gene. Like previously characterized mitochondrial RNase P RNAs, this small RNA is extremely AU-rich. The discovery of this 140-base RNA suggests that naturally occurring RNase P RNAs may be quite small.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southewestern Graduate School, Dallas 75235.
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Martin
D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics; D007716:Kluyveromyces / Q000737:chemistry*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D012361:RNA, Transfer, Pro / Q000235:genetics; D043262:Ribonuclease P; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012442:Saccharomycopsis / Q000737:chemistry*
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012361:RNA, Transfer, Pro; D004722:Endoribonucleases; D043262:Ribonuclease P