Poster abstracts
Poster number 65 submitted by Laura Kirby
Extensive Alternative RNA editing in the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 transcript in Trypanosoma brucei
Laura Kirby (Dept. of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University), Joshua Foster (Dept. of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University), Yanni Sun (Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University), Donna Koslowsky (Dept. of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University)
Abstract:
RNA editing in Trypanosoma brucei is necessary to create functional transcripts for many mitochondrial genes. Specific editing events are directed by small RNA molecules called guide RNAs (gRNAs). In the gRNAs collection identified for the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 transcript, a gRNA was identified that could encode an alternative edit. Gene specific primers were used to target the edited mRNA region in question and an abundant alternative edit was identified. This editing event was found to be followed by multiple other alternative editing events that generate a completely unique sequence. Searching the EATRO gRNA transcriptomes with this new sequence identified several highly abundant gRNAs that would encode these edits. These data suggest that different “sets” of gRNAs can be involved in the editing of the same primary transcript, greatly increasing the coding potential of the mitochondrial genome.
Keywords: RNA editing, Trypanosoma brucei, NADH dehydrogenase