Systematically fragmented genes in a multipartite mitochondrial genome

0356039 - ÚMG 2013 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Vlček, Čestmír - Marande, W. - Teijeiro, S. - Lukeš, Julius - Burger, G.
Systematically fragmented genes in a multipartite mitochondrial genome.
Nucleic Acids Research. Roč. 39, č. 3 (2011), s. 979-988. ISSN 0305-1048. E-ISSN 1362-4962
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) 1M0520; GA ČR(CZ) GA204/09/1667
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50520514; CEZ:AV0Z60220518
Keywords : mtDNA genome * gene fragmentation * RNA editing
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 8.026, year: 2011

The most bizarre mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is that of the euglenozoan eukaryote Diplonema papillatum. The genome consists of numerous small circular chromosomes none of which appears to encode a complete gene. We examined how many genes are encoded by Diplonema mtDNA and whether all are fragmented and their transcripts trans-spliced. By employing most sensitive protein profile search algorithms and comparing genomic with cDNA sequence, we recognize a total of 11 typical mitochondrial genes. The 10 protein-coding genes are systematically chopped up into three to 12 modules of 60-350 bp length. The corresponding mRNAs are all trans-spliced. Our results open new intriguing questions about the biochemistry and evolution of mitochondrial trans-splicing in Diplonema.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0194664