RNA editing in hornwort chloroplasts makes more than half the genes functional

Nucleic Acids Res. 2003 May 1;31(9):2417-23. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkg327.

Abstract

RNA editing in chloroplasts alters the RNA sequence by converting C-to-U or U-to-C at a specific site. During the study of the complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast genome from the hornwort Anthoceros formosae, RNA editing events have been systematically investigated. A total of 509 C-to-U and 433 U-to-C conversions are identified in the transcripts of 68 genes and eight ORFs. No RNA editing is seen in any of the rRNA but one tRNA suffered a C-to-U conversion at an anticodon. All nonsense codons in 52 protein-coding genes and seven ORFs are removed in the transcripts by U-to-C conversions, and five initiation and three termination codons are created by C-to-U conversions. RNA editing in intron sequence suggests that editing can precede intercistronic processing. The sequence complementary to the edited site is proposed as a distant cis-recognition element.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Codon / genetics
  • DNA, Complementary / chemistry
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Genes, Plant / genetics*
  • Genes, Plant / physiology
  • Introns / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NADH Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Plants / genetics*
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases / genetics
  • RNA Editing*
  • RNA, Chloroplast / genetics*
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Codon
  • DNA, Complementary
  • RNA, Chloroplast
  • RNA, Plant
  • NADH Dehydrogenase
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases