T box riboswitches in Actinobacteria: Translational regulation via novel tRNA interactions

The T box riboswitch regulates many amino acid-related genes in Gram-positive bacteria. T box riboswitch-mediated gene regulation was shown previously to occur at the level of transcription attenuation via structural rearrangements in the 5′ untranslated (leader) region of the mRNA in response to binding of a specific uncharged tRNA. In this study, a novel group of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase gene (ileS) T box leader sequences found in organisms of the phylum Actinobacteria was investigated. The Stem I domains of these RNAs lack several highly conserved elements that are essential for interaction with the tRNA ligand in other T box RNAs. Many of these RNAs were predicted to regulate gene expression at the level of translation initiation through tRNA-dependent stabilization of a helix that sequesters a sequence complementary to the Shine–Dalgarno (SD) sequence, thus freeing the SD sequence for ribosome binding and translation initiation. We demonstrated specific binding to the cognate tRNAIle and tRNAIle-dependent structural rearrangements consistent with regulation at the level of translation initiation, providing the first biochemical demonstration, to our knowledge, of translational regulation in a T box riboswitch.

Enhancer of rudimentaryp1, e(r)p1, a highly conserved enhancer of the rudimentary gene.

A hybrid dysgenesis-induced mutation, enhancer of rudimentaryp1 (e(r)p1), is a recessive enhancer of a weak rudimentary mutant phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster. The e(r) gene was cloned using P element tagging and localized to region 8B on the X chromosome. It encodes a 1.0-kb and a 1.2-kb transcript. The 1.0-kb transcript is present in both adult males and females, while the 1.2-kb transcript is predominantly found in females. The difference in the lengths of the two e(r) transcripts is caused by two different polyadenylation sites spaced 228 bp apart. The amounts of both of these transcripts are drastically reduced in the e(r)p1 mutant. The P element in e(r)p1 is inserted in the 5'-untranslated leader region near the start of transcription. It may be producing its effect by suppressing transcription and/or by providing transcription termination and polyadenylation signals. The putative e(r) protein is 104 amino acids in length and bears no striking resemblance to protein sequences in GenBank or PIR. While its biochemical function is unknown at this time, sequence analysis indicates that the e(r) protein is highly conserved and, presumably, functionally very important. The amino acid sequences of the D. melanogaster and the Drosophila virilis proteins are 95% identical.

The mutation bronze-mutable 4 derivative 6856 in maize is caused by the insertion of a novel 6.7-kilobase pair transposon in the untranslated leader region of the bronze-1 gene.

The Ds-controlled allele, bz-m4 Derivative 6856 [bz-m4 D6856], is reported to have an altered temporal- and tissue-specific pattern of gene expression. We have cloned this allele and have characterized it at the molecular level. The mutation was caused by the insertion of a complex transposon-like structure 36 base pairs downstream from the Bz mRNA cap site. The insert is 6.7-kbp long. Ds elements, each approximately 2 kbp in length, are at both ends of the insert. The sequence between the Ds elements is a partial duplication of flanking sequences from the 3' end of the Bz gene. These data suggest that Ds initially inserted near the 3' end of the gene and mobilized adjacent sequences as it transposed.