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An RNA helicase (AtSUV3) is present in Arabidopsis thaliana mitochondria
Author(s) -
Gagliardi Dominique,
Kuhn Josef,
Spadinger Ulrike,
Brennicke Axel,
Leaver Christopher J.,
Binder Stefan
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)01168-0
Subject(s) - rna helicase a , helicase , mitochondrion , arabidopsis thaliana , rna , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , messenger rna , arabidopsis , gene , biochemistry , mutant
The proteins involved in mitochondrial mRNA processing and degradation in higher plants have yet to be identified. As a first step towards this aim, we report here the characterisation of a nuclear‐encoded DExH box RNA helicase (AtSUV3) localised in Arabidopsis thaliana mitochondria. The AtSUV3 mRNA is assembled from the 16 exons of a weakly expressed unique gene and the predicted protein has a calculated molecular weight of 63.6 kDa. Subcellular fractionation of transgenic plants expressing AtSUV3/GUS fusion proteins localises this protein in mitochondria. The N‐terminal domain of AtSUV3 containing the motifs characteristic of DExH box RNA helicases exhibits a low endogenous ATPase activity in vitro which can be stimulated by the presence of mitochondrial RNA, confirming that AtSUV3 is an RNA helicase.