Abstract
The observation that the large ribosomal RNA intron of Tetrahymena is spliced 20-50-fold more rapidly in vivo than in vitro (Brehm SL, Cech TR, 1983, Biochemistry 22:2390-2397; Bass BL, Cech TR, 1984, Nature 308:820-826) suggests facilitation of RNA folding in vivo. To determine whether a specific group I splicing factor is required in Tetrahymena, the intron was inserted into the analogous position of the Escherichia coli 23S rRNA. We report that the intron is rapidly excised from pre-rRNA in bacteria and that the magnitude of the in vivo rate enhancement is similar to that in Tetrahymena. These results demonstrate that a species-specific protein is not required. Instead, a common mechanism of assisting RNA folding is sufficient to accelerate the removal of self-splicing introns from ribosomal RNA.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 284-292 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | RNA |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 3 |
State | Published - Dec 1 1995 |
Keywords
- 23S rRNA
- RNA folding
- Splicing factor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology