RNA synthesis in isolated yeast mitochondria

Abstract

Isolated yeast mitochondria incorporate added UTP into RNA. Amongst the products formed are the two rRNAs, 4S RNA and several components presumed to be mRNAs. In omega+ strains (containing an intervening sequence in the 21S rRNA gene) besides mature 21S rRNA a transcript could be detected still containing nucleotide sequences transcribed from this intervening sequence. In omega- strains (not containing this intervening sequence) also a longer form of the 21S rRNA could be observed. These results suggest that isolated yeast mitochondria are capable of carrying out RNA synthesis and processing, including splicing.