Messenger RNA intron in the nuclear 18s ribosomal RNA gene of deuteromycetes

Abstract

Introns within messenger RNA genes have characteristic border sequences and a conserved region near the 3' end of the intron. All are involved in splicing to produce the mature mRNA. Introns in ribosomal RNA genes have less well-defined borders and contain no internal conservation. We report here mRNA-type introns located near the 3' end of the 18s rRNA genes of the deuteromycetes Phialophora americana and Cenococcum geophilum. Inserted sequences of various sizes have also been located at the same point in several other deuteromycete species.