RNA splicing in Chlamydomonas chloroplasts. Self-splicing of 23 S preRNA.
The 23 S rRNA gene of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast contains an 888-base pair intron with structural features characteristic of Group I introns. The nuclear, chloroplast ribosome-deficient mutant of C. reinhardtii, ac20, overaccumulates a approximately 3.6-kilobase unspliced 23 S preRNA compared to wild-type cells. We have used [alpha-32P]GTP labeling of total RNA preparations from ac20 to rapidly determine that 23 S preRNA is capable of self-splicing. The ability of the 23 S intron (with flanking exon sequences) to correctly catalyze its own splicing was confirmed using RNA produced by in vitro transcription of cloned DNA. These results identify the first example of a self-splicing RNA of chloroplast origin.
Herrin
D L
DL
Botany Department, University of Texas, Austin 78713.
Chen
Y F
YF
Schmidt
G W
GW
D001483:Base Sequence; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D015342:DNA Probes; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics*; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D015342:DNA Probes; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012322:RNA Precursors; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S