Protein trans -splicing by a split intein encoded in a split DnaE gene of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

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Abstract
A split intein capable of protein trans -splicing is identified in a DnaE protein of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803. The N- and C-terminal halves of DnaE (catalytic subunit α of DNA polymerase III) are encoded by two separate genes, dnaE-n and dnaE-c , respectively. These two genes are located 745,226 bp apart in the genome and on opposite DNA strands. The dnaE-n product consists of a N-extein sequence followed by a 123-aa intein sequence, whereas the dnaE-c product consists of a 36-aa intein sequence followed by a C-extein sequence. The N- and C-extein sequences together reconstitute a complete DnaE sequence that is interrupted by the intein sequences inside the β- and τ-binding domains. The two intein sequences together reconstitute a split mini-intein that not only has intein-like sequence features but also exhibited protein trans -splicing activity when tested in Escherichia coli cells.