An Unspliced Group I Intron in 23S rRNA LinksChlamydiales, Chloroplasts, and Mitochondria

Abstract

ABSTRACT Chlamydia was the only genus in the orderChlamydiales until the recent characterization ofSimkania negevensis ZT and Parachlamydia acanthamoebae strains. The present study ofChlamydiales 23S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) focuses on a naturally occurring group I intron in the I-CpaI target site of 23S rDNA from S. negevensis. The intron, SnLSU · 1, belonged to the IB4 structural subgroup and was most closely related to large ribosomal subunit introns that express single-motif, LAGLIDADG endonucleases in chloroplasts of algae and in mitochondria of amoebae. RT-PCR and electrophoresis of in vivo rRNA indicated that the intron was not spliced out of the 23S rRNA. The unspliced 658-nt intron is the first group I intron to be found in bacterial rDNA or rRNA, and it may delay the S. negevensis developmental replication cycle by affecting ribosomal function.