Widespread occurrence of spliceosomal introns in the rDNA genes of ascomycetes.
Spliceosomal (pre-mRNA) introns have previously been found in eukaryotic protein-coding genes, in the small nuclear RNAs of some fungi, and in the small- and large-subunit ribosomal DNA genes of a limited number of ascomycetes. How the majority of these introns originate remains an open question because few proven cases of recent and pervasive intron origin have been documented. We report here the widespread occurrence of spliceosomal introns (69 introns at 27 different sites) in the small- and large-subunit nuclear-encoded rDNA of lichen-forming and free-living members of the Ascomycota. Our analyses suggest that these spliceosomal introns are of relatively recent origin, i.e., within the Euascomycetes, and have arisen through aberrant reverse-splicing (in trans) of free pre-mRNA introns into rRNAs. The spliceosome itself, and not an external agent (e.g., transposable elements, group II introns), may have given rise to these introns. A nonrandom sequence pattern was found at sites flanking the rRNA spliceosomal introns. This pattern (AG-intron-G) closely resembles the proto-splice site (MAG-intron-R) postulated for intron insertions in pre-mRNA genes. The clustered positions of spliceosomal introns on secondary structures suggest that particular rRNA regions are preferred sites for insertion through reverse-splicing.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Spliceosomes
- RNA, Ribosomal
- RNA Splicing
- Phylogeny
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Introns
- Genes, rRNA
- Genes, Fungal
- Evolutionary Biology
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Spliceosomes
- RNA, Ribosomal
- RNA Splicing
- Phylogeny
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Introns
- Genes, rRNA
- Genes, Fungal
- Evolutionary Biology