INVESTIGATING THE MECHANISM AND MACHINERY OF RNA EDITING

RNA editing in trypanosomes produces mature mRNAs by posttranscription al guide RNA (gRNA)-directed uridylate insertion and deletion. This ar ticle describes methods for the study of RNA editing with an emphasis on an in vitro editing system that was used to explore the general mec hanism of editing and that can be adapted for more in-depth studies of this intriguing and important process. Methods used to investigate th e macromolecular complex that catalyzes RNA editing are also described . This complex is composed of multiple proteins and contains several c atalytic activities. It is in the early stages of characterization. Th e methods described here are intended to assist in its further analysi s. (C) 1998 Academic Press.