mRNAs that mature through trans-splicing in Caenorhabditis elegans have a trimethylguanosine cap at their 5' termini.
Year: 1990
Type: article
Abstract: Approximately 10% of the mRNAs in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans mature through a trans-splicing mechanism that involves the transfer of a 22-nucleotide spliced leader to the 5' end of the pre-mRNA. The spliced leader RNA exists as a small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle and has the trimethylguanosine cap that is characteristic of eucaryotic small nuclear RNAs. We found that the trimethylguanosine cap present on the spliced leader RNA was transferred to the pre-mRNA during the trans-splicing reaction. Thereafter, the trimethylguanosine cap was maintained on the mature mRNA. This is the first example of eucaryotic cellular mRNAs possessing a trimethylguanosine cap structure.
Source: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Authors: K Van Doren, D Hirsh
Language: English
Topic: RNA Research and Splicing
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1823854504