Translational bypassing: a new reading alternative of the genetic code

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1055-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Groisman ◽  
Hanna Engelberg-Kulka

The translation of the genetic code, once thought to be rigid, has been found to be quite flexible, and several alternatives in its reading have been described. An unusual alternative is translational bypassing, a frameshift event where the transition from frame 0 to another frame occurs by translational bypassing of an extended region of the mRNA sequence rather than by slippage past a single nucleotide, as has been described for most examples of frameshifting. Translational bypassing has been characterized in two cases, T4 gene 60 coding for a topoisomerase subunit and in a trpR–lac′Z fusion. The latter was discovered in our laboratory, and the unique bypass mechanism is investigated further in this study. Using a trpR+1–lac′Z fusion system, we show that the Gln codon at the beginning of lacZ end at the 3′ side of the gap is required for bypassing to occur. The Gln codon is part of an mRNA segment that can (potentially) base pair with a segment at the 5′ and of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA. A model of trpR+1–lac′Z bypassing is suggested in which the untranslated region of the mRNA is looped out through base pairing between a segment in the 5′ end of the 16S rRNA and two sites in the mRNA. Translational bypassing is a newly discovered mechanism of gene expression, and trpR is the first cellular gene identified in which such a mechanism could operate. The understanding of this mechanism and its associated signals may be considered a paradigm for the expression of other genes by this alternative reading of the genetic code.Key words: genetic code, translation, frameshifting, trpR.

2007 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-280
Author(s):  
M. Kojic ◽  
Sandra Vojnovic ◽  
Natasa Vukov ◽  
Branka Vasiljevic

The 16S rRNA methylases are expressed by most of the antibiotic producing bacteria in order to protect themselves against antibiotics by methylation of 16S rRNA at positions which are crucial for their action. The sgm sisomicin-gentamicin resistance gene from Micromonospora zionensis methylates G1405 positioned in the A site of 16S rRNA, which includes a CCGCCC hexanucleotide. The same hexanucleotide is also present 14 nucleotides in front of the ribosome binding site of sgm mRNA. The model proposed for translational regulation of sgm assumes that Sgm binds to this motif, both on 16S rRNA and on the 5? untranslated region (UTR) of its own mRNA. The 5? UTR mRNA sequence was overexpressed on 3?-truncated sgm mRNA, and the effect on gentamicin resistance conferred by Sgm was tested in Escherichia coli and in Micromonospora melanosporea. Overexpression of the sgm mRNA regulatory region decreases the resistance to gentamicin in both E. coli and M. melanosporea. This effect is likely to be due to titration of Sgm molecules by the overexpressed 5? UTR.


Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 1315-1325
Author(s):  
Wei Chen ◽  
Maria A Islas-Osuna ◽  
Carol L Dieckmann

Abstract The cytochrome b gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, COB, is encoded by the mitochondrial genome. Nuclear-encoded Cbp1 protein is required specifically for COB mRNA stabilization. Cbp1 interacts with a CCG element in a 64-nucleotide sequence in the 5′-untranslated region of COB mRNA. Mutation of any nucleotide in the CCG causes the same phenotype as cbp1 mutations, i.e., destabilization of both COB precursor and mature message. In this study, eleven nuclear suppressors of single-nucleotide mutations in CCG were isolated and characterized. One dominant suppressor is in CBP1, while the other 10 semidominant suppressors define five distinct linkage groups. One group of four mutations is in PET127, which is required for 5′ end processing of several mitochondrial mRNAs. Another mutation is linked to DSS1, which is a subunit of mitochondrial 3′ → 5′ exoribonuclease. A mutation linked to the SOC1 gene, previously defined by recessive mutations that suppress cbp1 ts alleles and stabilize many mitochondrial mRNAs, was also isolated. We hypothesize that the products of the two uncharacterized genes also affect mitochondrial RNA turnover.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2454
Author(s):  
Marta Budziszewska ◽  
Przemysław Wieczorek

Tomato torrado virus (ToTV) induces severe systemic necrosis in Solanum lycopersicum. This work aimed at describing the genetic variability of necrosis-inducing ToTV-Wal’17 collected in 2017, derived from the ToTV-Wal’03 after long-term passages in plants. Sequence analyses of the ToTV-Wal’17 indicated twenty-eight single nucleotide substitutions in coding sequence of both RNAs, twelve of which resulted in amino acid changes in viral polyproteins. Moreover the sequencing data revealed that the 3’UTR of ToTV-Wal’17 RNA1 was 394 nts shorter in comparison to Wal’03. The performed sequence analyses revealed that 3’UTR of RNA1 of ToTV-Wal’17 is the most divergent across all previously described European isolates.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gur Pines ◽  
James D. Winkler ◽  
Assaf Pines ◽  
Ryan T. Gill

AbstractThe standard genetic code is robust to mutations and base-pairing errors during transcription and translation. Point mutations are most likely to be synonymous or preserve the chemical properties of the original amino acid. Saturation mutagenesis experiments suggest that in some cases the best performing mutant requires a replacement of more than a single nucleotide within a codon. These replacements are essentially inaccessible to common error-based laboratory engineering techniques that alter single nucleotide per mutation event, due to the extreme rarity of adjacent mutations. In this theoretical study, we suggest a radical reordering of the genetic code that maximizes the mutagenic potential of single nucleotide replacements. We explore several possible genetic codes that allow a greater degree of accessibility to the mutational landscape and may result in a hyper-evolvable organism serving as an ideal platform for directed evolution experiments. We then conclude by evaluating potential applications for recoded organisms within the synthetic biology field.Significance StatementThe conservative nature of the genetic code prevents bioengineers from efficiently accessing the full mutational landscape of a gene using common error-prone methods. Here we present two computational approaches to generate alternative genetic codes with increased accessibility. These new codes allow mutational transition to a larger pool of amino acids and with a greater degree of chemical differences, using a single nucleotide replacement within the codon, thus increasing evolvability both at the single gene and at the genome levels. Given the widespread use of these techniques for strain and protein improvement along with more fundamental evolutionary biology questions, the use of recoded organisms that maximize evolvability should significantly improve the efficiency of directed evolution, library generation and fitness maximization.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.M. Abdel-Kafy ◽  
S.F. Darwish ◽  
D. ElKhishin

The Myostatin (MSTN), or Growth and Differentiation Factor 8 (GDF8), gene has been implicated in the double muscling phenomenon, in which a series of mutations render the gene inactive and unable to properly regulate muscle fibre deposition. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MSTN gene have been correlated to production traits, making it a candidate target gene to enhance livestock and fowl productivity. This study aimed to assess any association of three SNPs in the rabbit MSTN gene (c.713T>A in exon 2, c.747+34C>T in intron 2, and c.*194A>G in 3’-untranslated region) and their combinations, with carcass, production and reproductive traits. The investigated traits included individual body weight, daily body weight gain, carcass traits and reproductive traits. The 3 SNPs were screened using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based analysis and the effects of the different SNP genotypes and their combinations were estimated in a rabbit population. Additionally, additive and dominance effects were estimated for significant traits. The results found no significant association between the c.713 T>A SNP and all the examined traits. Allele T at the c.747+34C>T SNP was only significantly associated (P<0.05) with increased body weight at 12 wk of age. However, for the SNP residing in the 3’ untranslated region (c.*194A>G), allele G was significantly associated (P<0.05) with increased body weight and high growth rate. Genotype GG at the c.*194A>G SNP also had positive effects on most carcass traits. The estimated additive genetic effect for the c.*194A>G SNP was significant (P<0.05) with most body weight, daily gain and carcass traits. No significant association was obtained between any MSTN SNPs and reproductive traits. In the combinations analysis, regardless of the genotypes of SNPs at c.713T>A and c.747+34C>T, GG at the c.*194A>G SNP correlated with highest values in body weight and daily weight gain. In conclusion, the ‘G’ allele at the c.*194A>G SNP had positive effects on growth and carcass traits and so could be used as a favourable allele in planning rabbit selection. Further population-wide studies are necessary to test the association of the c.*194A>G SNP with carcass traits. We also recommend evaluation of the potential effects of the c.*194A>G SNP on MSTN gene expression.


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