title: Functional characterization of the Drosophila MRP (mitochondrial RNA processing) RNA gene.
abstract: MRP RNA is a noncoding RNA component of RNase mitochondrial RNA processing (MRP), a multi-protein eukaryotic endoribonuclease reported to function in multiple cellular processes, including ribosomal RNA processing, mitochondrial DNA replication, and cell cycle regulation. A recent study predicted a potential Drosophila ortholog of MRP RNA (CR33682) by computer-based genome analysis. We have confirmed the expression of this gene and characterized the phenotype associated with this locus. Flies with mutations that specifically affect MRP RNA show defects in growth and development that begin in the early larval period and end in larval death during the second instar stage. We present several lines of evidence demonstrating a role for Drosophila MRP RNA in rRNA processing. The nuclear fraction of Drosophila MRP RNA localizes to the nucleolus. Further, a mutant strain shows defects in rRNA processing that include a defect in 5.8S rRNA processing, typical of MRP RNA mutants in other species, as well as defects in early stages of rRNA processing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G2H7, Canada.
authors.forename: Mary D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Anupinder K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bains
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Rajendra
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dominski
authors.forename: A Gregory
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Matera
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Simmonds
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D012313:RNA