ISSN:
1432-0983
Keywords:
Key words Dictyostelium discoideum
;
Mitochondrial DNA
;
Group-I intron
;
Cytochrome oxidase
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The DNA sequences of cytochrome oxidase (subunits 1, 2 and 3) genes of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum mitochondria were determined. The genes for subunits 1 and 2 have a single continuous ORF (COX1/2) which contains four group-I introns. The insertion sites of the two group-I introns (DdOX1/2.2 and DdOX1/2.3) coincide with those of fungal and algal group-I introns, as well as a liverwort group-I intron, in the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1. Interestingly, intron DdOX1/2.2 has two free-standing ORFs in a loop (L8) which have similar amino-acid sequences and are homologous to ai4 DNA endonuclease (I-Sce II) and bi4 RNA maturase found in group-I introns of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial DNA. Two group-I introns (DdOX1/2.3 and DdOX1/2.4) also have a free-standing ORF in loop 1 and loop 2, respectively. These results show that these group-I introns and the intronic ORFs have evolved from the same ancestral origin, but that these ORFs have been propagated independently.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002940050179
Permalink