One protein from two open reading frames: mechanism of a 50-nucleotide translational bypass

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Title One protein from two open reading frames: mechanism of a 50-nucleotide translational bypass
Publication Type dissertation
School or College School of Medicine
Department Human Genetics
Author Herr, Alan James
Date 2000-05
Description Translational bypassing joins the information found within two disparate open reading frames into a single polypeptide chain. The mechanism involves three stages: take-off, scanning, and landing. In takeoff, the peptidyl-tRNA-mRNA complex in the P-site of the ribosome dissociates. In scanning, the peptidyl-tRNA probes the mRNA sliding through the P-site. In landing, the peptidyl-tRNA re-pairs with a codon to which it can form a stable interaction. In the best characterized example - 4 gene 60 - a complex set of signals stimulates bypassing of 50 nucleotides (nt) between the two open reading frames. Efficient bypassing requires four signals: matching GGA codons flanking the 50-nt coding gap, a stop codon just downstream of the take-off site GGA, an mRNA stem-loop structure that folds at the junction between the first open reading frame the coding gap, and a cis-acting signal contained in a stretch of amino acids encoded by the first open reading frame. Normally, bypassing competes poorly with decoding in the A-site-background rates of bypassing are generally less than < 1%. In gene 60, bypassing efficiency approaches 50%. The stem-loop and the nascent peptide signal ensure efficient bypassing by preventing recognition of the stop codon by release factors and promoting peptidyl-tRNA slippage. A genetic selection identified mutant tRNA[Gly/2] variants that reduce bypassing efficiency three- to five-fold. The mutations, which either reduce the stability of the elbow region or destabilize the anticodon stem, apparently reduce the ability of tRNA to re-pair at the landing site GGA. Mutations that inactivate the nascent peptide signal restore bypassing, suggesting that the nascent peptide remains active subsequent to take-off. Nearly all ribosomes initiate bypassing at the take-off site GGA, but only half resume translation in the second open reading frame. Factors known to promote premature dissociation of peptidyl-tRNA from the ribosomes do not have a major influence on bypassing efficiency, suggesting that scanning ribosomes may be inherently unstable. A model for bypassing is proposed in which the stem-loop limits recognition of the UAG at the end of the first open reading frame and the nascent peptide promotes dissociation of peptidyl-tRNA-mRNA pairing.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject RNA; Proteins
Subject MESH Genetics; Peptides
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name PhD
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of "One protein from two open reading frames : mechanism of a 50-nucleotide translational bypass." Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version of "One protein from two open reading frames : mechanism of a 50-nucleotide translational bypass." available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collection. QH9.7 2000 .H47.
Rights Management © Alan James Herr.
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 4,853,631 bytes
Identifier undthes,5172
Source Original: University of Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (no longer available).
Funding/Fellowship NIH Genetics Training Grant (#fT32GM07464-24). Grants to John Atkins (NIH: GM48152) and RAy Gesteland (DOE: DE-FG03-99ER62732/A000)
Master File Extent 4,853,650 bytes
ARK ark:/87278/s6154jtf
Setname ir_etd
ID 190807
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6154jtf
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