Targeted deletion of sprA from the tobacco plastid genome indicates that the encoded small RNA is not essential for pre-16S rRNA maturation in plastids

The small plastid RNA (spRNA) which includes a segment that is complementary to the pre-16S rRNA has been suggested to facilitate maturation of pre-16S rRNA in tobacco. To investigate the function of spRNA, the gene encoding it (sprA) was removed from the plastid genome using targeted gene deletion. We report here that deletion of sprA does not significantly affect pre-16S rRNA maturation, nor does it cause any obvious phenotype. Although the spRNA still may be involved in rRNA maturation, it is non-essential under normal growth conditions.