The DNA sequence and genetic organization of a Neurospora mitochondrial plasmid suggest a relationship to introns and mobile elements.
We have determined the complete 3581 bp sequence of the mitochondrial plasmid from Neurospora crassa strain Mauriceville-1c. The plasmid contains a long open reading frame that is expressed in its major transcript and could encode a hydrophilic protein of 710 amino acids. Two characteristics of the plasmid--codon usage and the presence of conserved sequence elements--suggest that it is related to Group I mtDNA introns. The major transcripts of the plasmid are approximately full-length, colinear RNAs that have heterogenous 5' ends and a single major 3' end. The major 5' and 3' ends are adjacent and slightly overlapping. The Mauriceville plasmid may belong to a class of genetic elements that were or are the progenitors of mtDNA introns.
D001483:Base Sequence; D003062:Codon; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes; D009491:Neurospora / Q000235:genetics*; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D003062:Codon; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial