A 22-nucleotide spliced leader sequence in the human parasitic nematode Brugia malayi is identical to the trans-spliced leader exon in Caenorhabditis elegans.
The mRNAs encoding a 63-kDa antigen in the human parasitic nematode Brugia Malayi contain a spliced leader sequence of 22 nucleotides (nt) that is identical to the trans-spliced leader found on certain actin mRNAs in the distantly related nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The 22-nt sequence does not appear to be encoded near the 63-kDa genes but is present in multiple copies in several locations within the parasite genome, including the 5S rRNA gene repeat. The 5S-linked copies of the 22-nt sequence are transcribed to yield a 109-nt nonpolyadenylated RNA with the 22-nt leader sequence at its 5' end. We suggest that the 22-nt leader is acquired by 63-kDa antigen mRNAs through trans-splicing. These results indicate that trans-splicing is widespread in nematodes and argue for the functional significance of the 22-nt spliced leader exon in nematode mRNA metabolism.
Takacs
A M
AM
Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106.
Denker
J A
JA
Perrine
K G
KG
Maroney
P A
PA
Nilsen
T W
TW
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002009:Brugia / Q000235:genetics*; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000032:analysis; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S