Circular Ribosomal RNA Genes Are a General Feature of Schizopyrenid Amoebae

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We have recently shown that the ribosomal RNA genes of the amoebo-flagellate Naegleria gruberi Schardinger, 1899, strain NEG-M are carried exclusively on a 14 kilobasepair plasmid. To explore the distribution of this unique gene arrangement, we have examined another strain of N. gruberi and four other species [Naegleria thorntoni, tetramitus rostratus, Adelphamoeba galeacystis, Vahlrampfia lobospinosa] from the order Schizopyrenida. All have this unusual gene arrangement although the size of the plasmid varies widely. Species groups based on morphological criteria do not agree with those resulting from comparison of plasmid restriction enzyme patterns.