Loss of a Trans-Splicing nad1 Intron from Geraniaceae and Transfer of the Maturase Gene matR to the Nucleus in Pelargonium.

ABSTRACT: The mitochondrial nad1 gene of seed plants has a complex structure, including four introns in cis or trans configurations and a maturase gene (matR) hosted within the final intron. In the geranium family (Geraniaceae), however, sequencing of representative species revealed that three of the four introns, including one in a trans configuration and another that hosts matR, were lost from the nad1 gene in their common ancestor. Despite the loss of the host intron, matR has been retained as a freestanding gene in most genera of the family, indicating that this maturase has additional functions beyond the splicing of its host intron. In the common ancestor of Pelargonium, matR was transferred to the nuclear genome, where it was split into two unlinked genes that encode either its reverse transc

SUBMITTER: Grewe F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5174742 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature