Putative cross-kingdom horizontal gene transfer in sponge (Porifera) mitochondria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The mitochondrial genome of Metazoa is usually a compact molecule without introns. Exceptions to this rule have been reported only in corals and sea anemones (Cnidaria), in which group I introns have been discovered in the cox1 and nad5 genes. Here we show several lines of evidence demonstrating that introns can also be found in the mitochondria of sponges (Porifera).

Results

A 2,349 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cox1 gene was sequenced from the sponge Tetilla sp. (Spirophorida). This fragment suggests the presence of a 1143 bp intron. Similar to all the cnidarian mitochondrial introns, the putative intron has group I intron characteristics. The intron is present in the cox1 gene and encodes a putative homing endonuclease. In order to establish the distribution

SUBMITTER: Rot C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1618405 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature