Trans splicing integrates an exon of 22 nucleotides into the nad5 mRNA in higher plant mitochondria

• Published in: The EMBO journal Vol. 10; no. 11; pp. 3483 - 3493
• Main Authors: Knoop, V, Schuster, W, Wissinger, B, Bernnicke, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 01.11.1991
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; amino acid sequences; Arabidopsis; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Southern; Cloning, Molecular; DNA - genetics; Exons; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Introns; messenger RNA; mitochondria; Mitochondria - metabolism; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; NADH dehydrogenase; NADH Dehydrogenase - genetics; Nucleic Acid Conformation; nucleotide sequences; Oenothera; Open Reading Frames; Plants - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Restriction Mapping; RNA Splicing; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Transcription, Genetic; Transcription. Transcription factor. Splicing. Rna processing; RNA editing; Molecular processing; Enzyme; Arabidopsis; NADH dehydrogenase; Onagraceae; Subunit; Polymerase chain reaction; Mitochondria; Messenger RNA; Cruciferae; Dicotyledones; Oenothera; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1991.tb04912.x

The genes coding for NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5) in mitochondria of the higher plants Oenothera and Arabidopsis are split into five exons that are located in three distant genomic regions. These encode exons a + b, c and d + e, respectively. Maturation of the mRNAs requires two trans splicing events to integrate exon c of only 22 nucleotides. Both trans splicing reactions involve mitochondrial group II intron sequences that allow base pairings in the interrupted domain IV, demonstrating the flexibility of intron structures. The observation of fragmented intron sequences in plant mitochondria suggests that trans splicing is more widespread than previously assumed. RNA editing by C to U alterations in both Oenothera and Arabidopsis open reading frames improves the evolutionary conservation of the encoded polypeptides. Three C to U RNA editing events were observed in intron sequences.