Different patterns in the recognition of editing sites in plant mitochondria

Higher plant mitochondrial mRNAs are extensively modified by highly specific C-to-U conversions. However, the determinants of recognition specificity are, to date, unknown. Here, we analyse the cis-elements involved in the recognition of two editing sites in a cox2 gene in wheat mitochondria. A minimal region of 23 nt was found to be involved in recognition of the editing site C77, similar to our previous report for site C259. These regions were correctly recognized by the mitochondrial editing machinery when placed elsewhere in the transcript. The nearest neighbour residues of the target C play a crucial role in editing, but the nature and position of the residue varies according to the editing site concerned. The target region seems to be formed by two regions 5' and 3', which can be separated by a maximum of two residues. Studies on single residue mutants concerning every position in the 23 nt region indicated that editing sites are affected differently by their neighbouring sequences. These results suggest that, notwithstanding the similar extent and location of cis-elements, the editing site recognition mechanisms may differ in plant mitochondria.