title: Use of a Fluorescent Aptamer RNA as an Exonic Sequence to Analyze Self-Splicing Ability of aGroup I Intron from Structured RNAs.
abstract: Group I self-splicing intron constitutes an important class of functional RNA molecules that can promote chemical transformation. Although the fundamental mechanism of the auto-excision from its precursor RNA has been established, convenient assay systems for its splicing activity are still useful for a further understanding of its detailed mechanism and of its application. Because some host RNA sequences, to which group I introns inserted form stable three-dimensional (3D) structures, the effects of the 3D structures of exonic elements on the splicing efficiency of group I introns are important but not a fully investigated issue. We developed an assay system for group I intron self-splicing by employing a fluorescent aptamer RNA (spinach RNA) as a model exonic sequence inserted by theTetrahymenagroup I intron. We investigated self-splicing of the intron from spinach RNA, serving as a model exonic sequence with a 3D structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama 930-8555, Japan. apandaorange1@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Airi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Moto-oka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan. t.tanaka.075@s.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, Moto-oka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan. hfuruta@cstf.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furuta
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama 930-8555, Japan. smatsumu@sci.u-toyama.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shigeyoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama 930-8555, Japan. yikawa@sci.u-toyama.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshiya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikawa
keywords: Tetrahymena; intron; ribozymes; self-splicing; spinach RNA