Analyses of the Ribosomal DNA Region in Nosema bombycis NIS 001

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) containing small subunit (SSU) rDNA and both flanking regions in the entomopathogenic microsporidian Nosema bombycis NIS 001 was amplified from genomic DNA with a primer set based on the sequence of an inverse polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -derived fragment. In this fragment, SSU rDNA was divided by a 618-bp insert at nt 599, and 5S rDNA was located downstream of the SSU rDNA, fragmented by 284-bp intergenic spacer. In addition, the 48-bp 3′-end of large subunit (LSU) rDNA was located 118 bp upstream of the fragmented SSU rDNA. In the amplicon, the region upstream of the LSU rDNA was a homologue of the C-terminal CHARLIES transposon-like element of human GTF2IRD2. In this organism, another fragmented SSU rDNA, which was divided by a 231-bp insert at nt 50, was also detected. Both the intact (insertless) and fragmented SSU rDNAs clustered with LSU rDNA and 5S rDNA and the intergenic sequences between SSU rDNA and 5S rDNA were divergent in an organism. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay indicated that not only the intact SSU rDNA but also the fragmened SSU rDNA were transcribed in N. bombycis.