Editing of mitochondrial atp9 transcripts from two sorghum lines

Genomic and cDNA sequences of the ATP synthase complex subunit 9 (atp9) genes from two sorghum lines were determined. Sequences of cDNAs revealed eight C to U transcript editing events resulting in six amino acid changes and a new stop codon which eliminated 12 carboxy-terminal residues, compared to the genomic sequence. Sorghum atp9 has a unique five-residue amino-extension relative to other higher plants. The resulting predicted 79-residue gene product has a molecular weight of 8.179 kDa. The predicted phe-val-phe carboxy-terminus is identical to that from cDNA sequences of wheat, Oenothera, and petunia. Partial editing of transcripts was detected in each sorghum line.