A mitochondrial RNA maturase gene transferred to the yeast nucleus can control mitochondrial mRNA splicing.
bI4 maturase, encoded by the fourth intron of the yeast mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, controls the splicing of both the fourth intron of the cytochrome b gene and the fourth intron of the gene encoding subunit I of cytochrome oxidase. By fusing the encoding presequence of subunit 9 of the Neurospora ATPase to a restriction fragment containing the bI4 maturase coding sequence, we have constructed a hybrid gene that can be translated on yeast cytosolic ribosomes. The resulting protein is imported into mitochondria, which was revealed by its ability to restore to respiratory competence a yeast mutant defective in the bI4 maturase. Moreover, a protein reacting with antimaturase antibodies was detected in the mitochondria of the transformed cells; this imported maturase functioned similarly to the endogenous maturase.
D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003600:Cytosol / Q000502:physiology; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D010957:Plasmids; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics*; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D004722:Endoribonucleases; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases