title: Nuclear insertions of organellar DNA can create novel patches of functional exon sequences.
abstract: Recent nuclear transfer of organellar DNA is thought to result mainly in nonfunctional nuclear sequences or in genetic dysfunction. Here we show that nuclear exons encoding novel protein sequences can be generated by insertions of organellar DNA. Most of the protein sequences do not correspond to preexisting organellar coding sequences or they represent markedly reshaped protein domains, reflecting the recruitment and adaptation of encoded proteins to new functions. Organelle-derived DNA insertions might be responsible for many more ancient functional exon acquisitions that are not directly detectable.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Botanik, Department Biologie I, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Menzinger Strasse 67, 80638 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noutsos
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kleine
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Armbruster
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: DalCorso
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leister
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005091:Exons / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000502:physiology; D015388:Organelles / Q000235:genetics*; D012275:Oryza; D010802:Phylogeny; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA