Multicopy GTPase center protein L12 of Arabidopsis chloroplast ribosome is encoded by a clustered nuclear gene family with the expressed members closely linked to tRNA(Pro) genes.

A conserved architectural feature of ribosomes is a protuberance (the stalk) in the large subunit, essential for ribosomal interactions with translational factors and GTP hydrolysis and generated by two dimers of L12, the only multicopy protein in ribosomes. In higher plants, the rpl12 gene for chloroplast L12 is located in the nucleus. We report here the cloning and sequencing of this nuclear gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, revealing the first gene family for a chloroplast ribosomal protein (RP). A single cluster/haploid genome of three rpl12 genes is located in the sequenced 9.1-kilobase region of the Arabidopsis genome. Two of the rpl12 genes encode identical mature proteins, and the third encodes a 25% divergent RP, although the chloroplast-targeting transit peptide in each is distinct. The rpl12 genes encoding identical RPs are closely linked at their 5' ends to identical cytosolic tRNA(Pro) genes with a < 250-base pair spacer. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction experiments with total RNA isolated from Arabidopsis (and characterization of several L12 cDNA clones) show that only the tRNA-linked rpl12 genes are expressed. We also show (by polymerase chain reaction experiments with isolated total DNA) that this tRNA(Pro)-rpl12 gene linkage is conserved in spinach (inferred to contain a single gene copy) indicating its importance. The previously described enhanced translation of spinach L12 mRNA from its two tandem AUG codons and the two functional rpl12 genes in Arabidopsis probably provide two mechanisms for generating the four copies of L12/chloroplast ribosome, qualitatively different from those attempted in eubacteria.

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