Open AccessRepeated sequences and open reading frames in the 3' flanking region of the gene for the RNA subunit of Escherichia coli ribonuclease P.
Author(s) -
Robin Reed,
Sidney Altman
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.80.17.5359
Subject(s) - rna , biology , genetics , gene , transcription (linguistics) , rna editing , rnase p , open reading frame , base pair , non coding rna , rna silencing , microbiology and biotechnology , rna interference , peptide sequence , linguistics , philosophy
We have determined the identity of about 700 nucleotides in the 3' flanking region of the gene for M1 RNA, the RNA component of RNase P (EC 3.1.26.5). This region begins with a 113-base-pair segment of DNA, which is repeated approximately 3.5 times. The first repeating unit originates within the gene sequence for the 3' end of mature M1 RNA. The repeating units are highly conserved but diverge considerably after the partial fourth repeat. Segments of sequence homologous to the repeats have been identified both upstream in the M1 RNA transcription unit and downstream from the repeating units. Several overlapping open reading frames, with the potential to encode small basic proteins, have been identified in the repeated sequences. The structure of the M1 RNA gene 3' flanking region is very similar to the corresponding region at the Tyr T locus. In vitro and in vivo, transcription of the M1 RNA gene appears to terminate about 40 nucleotides downstream from the 3' terminus of mature M1 RNA. Therefore, an RNA processing event is involved in the biosynthesis of M1 RNA.