Spectroscopic evidence for the uneven distribution of adenine and uracil residues in ribosomal ribonucleic acid of Drosophila melanogaster and of Plasmodium knowlesi and its possible evolutionary significance.

The Biochemical journal ·Vol. 155 ·No. 3 ·1976-06-01 ·Pages 465-75

Cox RA, Godwin E, Hastings JR

Abstract

RNA was isolated from subribosomal particles of the malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi. The nucleotide composition (mole fraction) of the principal species was obtained (S-rRNA, 0.295A, 0.36U, 0.25G, 0.105C: L-rRNA, 0.326A, 0.31U, 0.228G, 0.144C). Ribosomal RNA was also isolated from Drosophila melanogaster. Optical properties of these A + U-rich species were measured. In all four cases analysis of the hypochromic effect revealed that adenine and uracil residues tended to form clusters along the polynucleotide chain. A substantial fraction of residues was located in bihelical regions of approx. 50% G-C base pairs or in regions of approx. 30-35% G-C base pairs. The possible evolutionary significance of these results was considered on the basis of comparison with properties of rRNA from bacteria (Escherichia coli) and a mammal (rabbit reticulocyte).

MeSH Terms

Adenine/analysis Animals Base Sequence Biological Evolution Drosophila melanogaster/analysis Escherichia coli/analysis Plasmodium/analysis RNA, Bacterial RNA, Ribosomal/analysis Rabbits Spectrophotometry Temperature Uracil/analysis

Chemicals

RNA, Bacterial RNA, Ribosomal Uracil Adenine

Authors & Affiliations

3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID

Cox R A

Godwin E

Hastings J R

References (23)

23 references, click to expand

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Article Info

Journal

The Biochemical journal

Abbr.

Biochem J

ISSN

0264-6021

DOI

10.1042/bj1550465a

Published

1976-06-01

Pages

465-75

Language

English

Region

England

NLM ID

2984726R

PMCID

PMC1172868

Subset

External Links

PubMed source DOI: 10.1042/bj1550465a PMC Full Text View journal details

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Spectroscopic evidence for the uneven distribution of adenine and uracil residues in ribosomal ribonucleic acid of Drosophila melanogaster and of Plasmodium knowlesi and its possible evolutionary significance.

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