Association of transcripts from a group-I intron-containing gene with high sedimentation coefficient particles

The mitochondrial gene coding for the large rRNA contains a self-splicing optional group-I intron (Sc-LSU.1) in some Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. Although the mechanisms of splicing have been extensively studied, little is known about the possible interactions of this intron with other mitochondrial molecules such as proteins. Using glycerol gradients, we have compared the sedimentation coefficients of mitochondrial transcripts containing the Sc-LSU.1 intron in native yeast extracts and in purified RNA preparations. By comparing extracts from rho+ and rho- cells we have found that at least three RNA species containing the Sc-LSU.1 intron (4.5 kb, 2.7 kb and 1.2 kb respectively) are associated in vivo with a multimolecular complex of sedimentation coefficient 50S made up of nuclearly encoded proteins. Another RNA species of 2.7 kb, which may correspond to a cleavage at the dodecamer sequence of the intron, is not associated with the same particle. The possibility that the 50S particle corresponds to the mitochondrial ribosome or its precursor form(s) is discussed.