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Updated: May 8, 2026

mRNA Interactome Capture from Plant Protoplasts
Published on: July 28, 2017
Strand-specific RNA sequencing uncovers chloroplast ribonuclease functions
Benoît Castandet1, Amber M Hotto, Zhangjun Fei
1Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, NY 14853-1801, USA.
Abstract:
Organellar gene expression incorporates ribonucleases as indispensable participants. Here, we explored the capacity of strand-specific RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) as a tool to analyze chloroplast ribonuclease functions using the 3'→5' exoribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) as a proof of concept. The role of PNPase in transcript 3' end maturation was easily monitored, and additional targeted mRNAs were discovered. Moreover, a role in tRNA precursor degradation was predicted and validated. These results, together with previously published data, suggest that RNA-Seq represents a unique opportunity to decipher the roles of organellar ribonucleases and deepen our understanding of chloroplast gene expression.
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