Identifying specific trans-factors of RNA editing in plant mitochondria by multiplex single base extension typing

The multiplex single base extension SNP-typing procedure outlined here can be employed to screen large numbers of plants for mutations in nuclear genes that affect mitochondrial RNA editing. The high -sensitivity of this method allows high-throughput analysis of individual plants altered in RNA editing at given sites in total cellular cDNA from pooled RNA preparations of up to 50 green plants. The method can be used for large-scale screening for mutations in genes encoding trans-factors for specific RNA -editing sites. Several nuclear encoded genes involved in RNA editing at specific sites in mitochondria of Arabidopsis thaliana have been identified by this approach.