Isolation of a U-insertion/deletion editing complex from Leishmania tarentolae mitochondria

A multiprotein, high molecular weight complex active in both U-insertion and U-deletion as judged by a pre-cleaved RNA editing assay was isolated from mitochondrial extracts of Leishmania tarentolae by the tandem affinity purification (TAP) procedure, using three different TAP-tagged proteins of the complex. This editing- or E-complex consists of at least three protein-containing components interacting via RNA: the RNA ligase-containing L-complex, a 3' TUTase (terminal uridylyltransferase) and two RNA-binding proteins, Ltp26 and Ltp28. Thirteen approximately stoichiometric components were identified by mass spectrometric analysis of the core L-complex: two RNA ligases; homologs of the four Trypanosoma brucei editing proteins; and seven novel polypeptides, among which were two with RNase III, one with an AP endo/exonuclease and one with nucleotidyltransferase motifs. Three proteins have no similarities beyond kinetoplastids.