Diversity, mobility, and structural and functional evolution of group II introns carrying an unusual 3' extension.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Group II introns are widespread genetic elements endowed with a dual functionality. They are catalytic RNAs (ribozymes) that are able of self-splicing and they are also mobile retroelements that can invade genomic DNA. The group II intron RNA secondary structure is typically made up of six domains. However, a number of unusual group II introns carrying a unique extension of 53-56 nucleotides at the 3' end have been identified previously in bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group.

Methods

In the present study, we conducted combined sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of introns, host gene, plasmid and chromosome of host strains in order to gain insights into mobility, dispersal, and evolution of the unusual introns and their extension. We also performed in

SUBMITTER: Tourasse NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3261151 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature