RNA splicing in Neurospora mitochondria. Characterization of new nuclear mutants with defects in splicing the mitochondrial large rRNA.

In Neurospora, the gene encoding the mitochondrial large (25S) ribosomal RNA contains an intervening sequence of 2.3 kb. We have identified eight nuclear mutants that are defective in splicing the mitochondrial large ribosomal RNA and that accumulate unspliced precursor RNA. These mutants identify three different nuclear genes required for the same mitochondrial RNA splicing reaction. Some of the mutants have unique phenotypic characteristics (for example, accumulation of an unusual intron RNA) that may provide insight into specific aspects of mitochondrial RNA splicing. Mutations at one locus, cyt4, are subject to partial phenotypic suppression by the electron-transport inhibitor antimycin. This phenomenon suggests that at least one component required for mitochondrial RNA splicing is regulated such that its synthesis or activity is increased in response to impairment of electron transport.