title: Novel hybrid encodes both continuous and split tRNA genes?
abstract: tRNAs are mostly transcribed from un-fragmented genes, but occasionally also from split genes, with separated 5' and 3' halves. A reanalysis of the existing data on Staphylothermus marinus and Staphylothermus hellenicus hints of a novel hybrid gene that encodes both an un-fragmented and a 5'-split-half together in one. The corresponding 3' complement-gene is located elsewhere on the genome. As un-fragmented, the hybrid gene transcribes to tRNA(lys)(TTT). But as 5'-half, it trans-splices with its 3'-complement-half to tRNA(lys)(CTT), the tRNA missed so far. This hybrid of the split and the un-fragmented in one suggests a deeper synergy between the two, and hints of co-evolution. Furthermore, in a subtle contrast to the widely held idea of conservation of 3'-half, it is precisely the 3'-half that varies in these two tRNAs; the 5'-half remains conserved.
authors.affiliation: Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Calcutta 700032, India.
authors.forename: Smarajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Sanga
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Satyabrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahoo
authors.forename: Jayprokas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D019620:Desulfurococcaceae / Q000235:genetics*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D019642:RNA, Archaeal / Q000235:genetics*; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019642:RNA, Archaeal; D012343:RNA, Transfer