In Vitro RNA Editing Systems From Higher Plant Chloroplasts

RNA editing in higher plant chloroplasts involves C-to-U conversion at ∼30 specific sites. In vitro systems supporting accurate editing have been developed from tobacco and pea chloroplasts. mRNA substrates labeled with ³² P at C residues to be edited provide sensitive detection of editing activity in vitro. The present systems allow the rapid identification of cis -elements using mutated mRNA substrates and trans -acting factors by ultraviolet crosslinking.