Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 19 October 2007:
Vol. 318. no. 5849, pp. 450 - 453
DOI: 10.1126/science.1145718
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Permuted tRNA Genes Expressed via a Circular RNA Intermediate in Cyanidioschyzon merolae

Akiko Soma,1 Akinori Onodera,1 Junichi Sugahara,2,3 Akio Kanai,2,3,4 Nozomu Yachie,2,3 Masaru Tomita,2,3,4 Fujio Kawamura,1,5 Yasuhiko Sekine1,5*

A computational analysis of the nuclear genome of a red alga, Cyanidioschyzon merolae, identified 11 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes in which the 3' half of the tRNA lies upstream of the 5' half in the genome. We verified that these genes are expressed and produce mature tRNAs that are aminoacylated. Analysis of tRNA-processing intermediates for these genes indicates an unusual processing pathway in which the termini of the tRNA precursor are ligated, resulting in formation of a characteristic circular RNA intermediate that is then processed at the acceptor stem to generate the correct termini.

1 Department of Life Science, College of Science, Rikkyo (St. Paul's) University, Toshima, Tokyo 171-8501, Japan.
2 Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, 997-0017, Japan.
3 Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-8520, Japan.
4 Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, 252-8520, Japan.
5 Research Information Center for Extremophile, Rikkyo (St. Paul's) University, Toshima, Tokyo 171-8501, Japan.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ysekine{at}rikkyo.ac.jp

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
A trans-splicing group I intron and tRNA-hyperediting in the mitochondrial genome of the lycophyte Isoetes engelmannii.
F. Grewe, P. Viehoever, B. Weisshaar, and V. Knoop (2009)
Nucleic Acids Res. 37, 5093-5104
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Tri-split tRNA is a transfer RNA made from 3 transcripts that provides insight into the evolution of fragmented tRNAs in archaea.
K. Fujishima, J. Sugahara, K. Kikuta, R. Hirano, A. Sato, M. Tomita, and A. Kanai (2009)
PNAS 106, 2683-2687
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
From the Cover: Cis- and trans-splicing of mRNAs mediated by tRNA sequences in eukaryotic cells.
G. Di Segni, S. Gastaldi, and G. P. Tocchini-Valentini (2008)
PNAS 105, 6864-6869
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Long-distance splicing.
A. M. Anderson and J. P. Staley (2008)
PNAS 105, 6793-6794
   Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)