Learning to Live Together: Mutualism between Self-splicing Introns and Their Hosts

Authors

David R. Edgell, The University of Western Ontario
Venkata R. Chalamcharla, New York State Department of Health
Marlene Belfort, New York State Department of Health

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-11-2011

Journal

BMC Biology

Volume

9

Issue

22

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1741-7007-9-22

Abstract

Group I and II introns can be considered as molecular parasites that interrupt protein-coding and structural RNA genes in all domains of life. They function as self-splicing ribozymes and thereby limit the phenotypic costs associated with disruption of a host gene while they act as mobile DNA elements to promote their spread within and between genomes. Once considered purely selfish DNA elements, they now seem, in the light of recent work on the molecular mechanisms regulating bacterial and phage group I and II intron dynamics, to show evidence of co-evolution with their hosts. These previously underappreciated relationships serve the co-evolving entities particularly well in times of environmental stress.