Open AccessCyanobacterial tRNA Leu (UAA) group I introns have polyphyletic origin
Author(s) -
Rudi Knut,
Jakobsen Kjetill S
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb12743.x
Subject(s) - intron , biology , polyphyly , group i catalytic intron , group ii intron , transfer rna , rna splicing , genetics , minor spliceosome , gene , rna , phylogenetics , clade
Self‐splicing group I introns in tRNA anticodon loops have been found in diverse groups of bacteria (α, β purple bacteria and cyanobacteria). In particular, the cyanobacterial tRNA Leu (UAA) group I introns have attracted considerable attention because of their presumed ancient origin and immobility. In this work, however, we identified tRNA Leu (UAA) group I introns in six out of 16 closely related isolates belonging to the cyanobacterial genus Microcystis . Interestingly, these introns are more closely related to the group I introns identified in the α and β purple bacteria (located in tRNA Arg (CCU) and tRNA Ile (CAU), respectively) than to other cyanobacterial introns. Our sequence comparison and phyletic reconstruction suggest lateral transfer of the intron (possibly trough mobility), and a polyphyletic origin of cyanobacterial tRNA Leu (UAA) group I introns.