title: Complete nucleotide sequence of the Mycobacterium leprae 23 S and 5 S rRNA genes plus flanking regions and their potential in designing diagnostic oligonucleotide probes.
abstract: The complete nucleotide sequences of the Mycobacterium leprae 23 S and 5 S rRNA genes and their flanking regions are presented. As compared to other eubacterial homologous molecules the 23 S rDNA exhibits two insertions. A 16 nucleotide long insertion is almost unique to members of the genus Mycobacterium, while the second represents an extended version of helix 54. The potential of both insertions to serve as target for diagnostic oligonucleotide probes was proven by comparative sequence analysis of 23 S rRNA of several Mycobacterium species and by dot blot hybridization. In addition, a 19-mer oligonucleotide probe is described, which can be considered genus Mycobacterium-specific.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liesack
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sela
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bercovier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pitulle
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stackebrandt
mesh_terms: D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D015195:Drug Design; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000235:genetics*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000235:genetics*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics*; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S