Acholeplasma laidlawii has tRNA genes in the 16S-23S spacer of the rRNA operon

Abstract

We amplified the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region of Acholeplasma laidlawii PG8 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and obtained two specific PCR products in different sizes. We have sequenced both PCR products and found that one of them has sequence homologous to the spacer tRNA genes in Bacillus subtilis. This is the first evidence of tRNA genes between the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions in members of the class Mollicutes.