A large number of nuclear genes in the human parasite blastocystis require mRNA polyadenylation to create functional termination codons.

ABSTRACT: Termination codons in mRNA molecules are typically specified directly by the sequence of the corresponding gene. However, in mitochondria of a few eukaryotic groups, some mRNAs contain the termination codon UAA deriving one or both adenosines from transcript polyadenylation. Here, we show that a similar phenomenon occurs for a substantial number of nuclear genes in Blastocystis spp., divergent unicellular eukaryote gut parasites. Our analyses of published genomic data from Blastocystis sp. subtype 7 revealed that polyadenylation-mediated creation of termination codons occurs in approximately 15% of all nuclear genes. As this phenomenon has not been noticed before, the procedure previously employed to annotate the Blastocystis nuclear genome sequence failed to correctly define the structure

SUBMITTER: Klimes V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4159000 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature