Abstract
One-fifth of the tRNAs used in plant mitochondrial translation is coded for by chloroplast-derived tRNA genes. To understand how aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases have adapted to the presence of these tRNAs in mitochondria, we have cloned an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA coding for a methionyl-tRNA synthetase. This enzyme was chosen because chloroplast-like elongator tRNA(Met) genes have been described in several plant species, including A. thaliana. We demonstrate here that the isolated cDNA codes for both the chloroplastic and the mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS). The protein is transported into isolated chloroplasts and mitochondria and is processed to its mature form in both organelles. Transient expression assays using the green fluorescent protein demonstrated that the N-terminal region of the MetRS is sufficient to address the protein to both chloroplasts and mitochondria. Moreover, characterization of MetRS activities from mitochondria and chloroplasts of pea showed that only one MetRS activity exists in each organelle and that both are indistinguishable by their behavior on ion exchange and hydrophobic chromatographies. The high degree of sequence similarity between A. thaliana and Synechocystis MetRS strongly suggests that the A. thaliana MetRS gene described here is of chloroplast origin.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 11014-11019 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Volume | 95 |
| Issue number | 18 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 1 1998 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics
- General
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A single gene of chloroplast origin codes for mitochondrial and chloroplastic methionyl-tRNA synthetase in Arabidopsis thaliana. / Menand, B.; Maréchal-Drouard, L.; Sakamoto, Wataru; Dietrich, A.; Wintz, H.
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 95, No. 18, 01.09.1998, p. 11014-11019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A single gene of chloroplast origin codes for mitochondrial and chloroplastic methionyl-tRNA synthetase in Arabidopsis thaliana
AU - Menand, B.
AU - Maréchal-Drouard, L.
AU - Sakamoto, Wataru
AU - Dietrich, A.
AU - Wintz, H.
PY - 1998/9/1
Y1 - 1998/9/1
N2 - One-fifth of the tRNAs used in plant mitochondrial translation is coded for by chloroplast-derived tRNA genes. To understand how aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases have adapted to the presence of these tRNAs in mitochondria, we have cloned an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA coding for a methionyl-tRNA synthetase. This enzyme was chosen because chloroplast-like elongator tRNA(Met) genes have been described in several plant species, including A. thaliana. We demonstrate here that the isolated cDNA codes for both the chloroplastic and the mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS). The protein is transported into isolated chloroplasts and mitochondria and is processed to its mature form in both organelles. Transient expression assays using the green fluorescent protein demonstrated that the N-terminal region of the MetRS is sufficient to address the protein to both chloroplasts and mitochondria. Moreover, characterization of MetRS activities from mitochondria and chloroplasts of pea showed that only one MetRS activity exists in each organelle and that both are indistinguishable by their behavior on ion exchange and hydrophobic chromatographies. The high degree of sequence similarity between A. thaliana and Synechocystis MetRS strongly suggests that the A. thaliana MetRS gene described here is of chloroplast origin.
AB - One-fifth of the tRNAs used in plant mitochondrial translation is coded for by chloroplast-derived tRNA genes. To understand how aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases have adapted to the presence of these tRNAs in mitochondria, we have cloned an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA coding for a methionyl-tRNA synthetase. This enzyme was chosen because chloroplast-like elongator tRNA(Met) genes have been described in several plant species, including A. thaliana. We demonstrate here that the isolated cDNA codes for both the chloroplastic and the mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS). The protein is transported into isolated chloroplasts and mitochondria and is processed to its mature form in both organelles. Transient expression assays using the green fluorescent protein demonstrated that the N-terminal region of the MetRS is sufficient to address the protein to both chloroplasts and mitochondria. Moreover, characterization of MetRS activities from mitochondria and chloroplasts of pea showed that only one MetRS activity exists in each organelle and that both are indistinguishable by their behavior on ion exchange and hydrophobic chromatographies. The high degree of sequence similarity between A. thaliana and Synechocystis MetRS strongly suggests that the A. thaliana MetRS gene described here is of chloroplast origin.
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U2 - 10.1073/pnas.95.18.11014
DO - 10.1073/pnas.95.18.11014
M3 - Article
VL - 95
SP - 11014
EP - 11019
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 18
ER -