Is kinetoplastid pan-editing the result of an evolutionary balancing act?
Kinetoplastid U-insertion/deletion type editing is a highly elaborate process to generate translationally competent mitochondrial mRNAs. All evolutionary models to explain its origin and extent in present day organisms lack a convincing description of the advantage(s) responsible for an active increase of the editing potential. This advantage can be found in the gene fragmentation that is inherent in pan-editing which gives protection against loss of temporarily non expressed mitochondrial genes during periods of intense intraspecies competition.
Speijer
Dave
D
Department of Medical Biochemistry, AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. D.Speijer@amc.uva.nl
D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016830:Kinetoplastida / Q000235:genetics*; D017393:RNA Editing
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial