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PMID: 3409870 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Trypanosome trans-splicing utilizes 2'-5' branches and a corresponding debranching activity.

The EMBO journal ·Vol. 7 ·No. 5 ·1988-05-00 ·Pages 1431-7

Sutton RE, Boothroyd JC

Abstract

The 5' ends of trypanosome mRNAs consist of an identical sequence of 39 nucleotides which is derived from a discrete transcript of approximately 140 nucleotides (medRNA). It has been proposed that generation of chimeric mRNAs in trypanosomes occurs by the process of trans-splicing involving medRNA and an acceptor RNA. Part of the basis for this suggestion comes from the ability of HeLa cell extracts (known to contain debranching activity) to catalyze the release of the intron portion of medRNA (minRNA) implying a Y-branched intermediate in the splicing process. Here we provide direct chemical analysis that miniRNA is attached to higher mol. wt RNA molecules by a 2'-5' phosphodiester bond (i.e. as a branched structure). We also demonstrate that trypanosomes have substantial amounts of debranching activity which is similar in nature to that of HeLa cells. These results provide further evidence for trans-splicing in trypanosomes and highlights its similarity to cis-splicing in other eukaryotes.

MeSH Terms
Animals Nucleic Acid Conformation RNA Nucleotidyltransferases/metabolism RNA Splicing RNA, Messenger/metabolism Trypanosoma brucei brucei/metabolism
Chemicals
RNA, Messenger RNA Nucleotidyltransferases mRNA debranching enzyme
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Sutton R E
Department of Medical Microbiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305.
Boothroyd J C
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46 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
The EMBO journal
Abbr.
EMBO J
ISSN
0261-4189
Published
1988-05-00
Pages
1431-7
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
8208664
PMCID
PMC458393
Subset
IM
Grants
NIAID NIH HHS · AI21023 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM07365 · United States
External Links
PubMed source PMC Full Text View journal details
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