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Circular DNA of Entamoeba histolytica Encodes Ribosomal RNA
Author(s) -
BHATTACHARYA SUDHA,
BHATTACHARYA ALOK,
DIAMOND LOUIS S.,
SOLDO ANTHONY T.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1989.tb01080.x
Subject(s) - entamoeba histolytica , ribosomal rna , dna , rna , biology , entamoeba , ribosomal dna , genetics , gene , phylogenetics
. The presence of repeated DNA sequences encoding RNA in Entamoeba histolytica has been reported. In the present study we demonstrate by agarose gel electrophoresis, DNase digestion and electron microscopic analysis that these genes are located on extrachromosomal circular DNA molecules with an approximate size of 26 kb. Detection of replication intermediates suggests the episomal nature of these molecules. Amplified, extrachromosomal rRNA genes appear to be a common feature among the lower eukaryotes, occurring more commonly as linear molecules and less commonly as circles. Entamoeba histolytica is 1 of the few organisms studied in which rRNA genes are located predominantly on extrachromosomal circles.