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F Yamao

Publications and source records attributed to F Yamao.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

UGA is read as tryptophan in Mycoplasma capricolum.

UGA is a nonsense or termination (opal) codon throughout prokaryotes and eukaryotes. However, mitochondria use not only UGG but also UGA as a tryptophan codon. Here, we show that UGA also codes for tryptophan in Mycoplasma capricolum, a wall-less bacterium having a genome only 20-25% the size of the Escherichia coli genome. This conclusion is based on the following evidence. First, the nucleotide sequence of the S3 and L16 ribosomal protein genes from M. capricolum includes UGA codons in the reading frames; they appear at positions corresponding to tryptophan in E. coli S3 and L16. Second, a tRNATrp gene and its product tRNA found in M. capricolum have the anticodon sequence 5' U-C-A 3', which can form a complementary base-pairing interaction with UGA.

Biological Evolution↗

Preferential use of A- and U-rich codons for Mycoplasma capricolum ribosomal proteins S8 and L6.

The nucleotide sequence of the 1.3 kilobase-pair DNA segment, which contains the genes for ribosomal proteins S8 and L6, and a part of L18 of Mycoplasma capricolum, has been determined and compared with the corresponding sequence in Escherichia coli (Cerretti et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 11, 2599, 1983). Identities of the predicted amino acid sequences of S8 and L6 between the two organisms are 54% and 42%, respectively. The A + T content of the M. capricolum genes is 71%, which is much higher than that of E. coli (49%). Comparisons of codon usage between the two organisms have revealed that M. capricolum preferentially uses A- and U-rich codons. More than 90% of the codon third positions and 57% of the first positions in M. capricolum is either A or U, whereas E. coli uses A or U for the third and the first positions at a frequency of 51% and 36%, respectively. The biased choice of the A- and U-rich codons in this organism has been also observed in the codon replacements for conservative amino acid substitutions between M. capricolum and E. coli. These facts suggest that the codon usage of M. capricolum is strongly influenced by the high A + T content of the genome.

Adenine↗

Organization of ribosomal RNA genes in Mycoplasma capricolum.

DNA segments carrying rRNA genes of Mycoplasma capricolum have been cloned and characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping, DNA-RNA hybridization and nucleotide sequencing. The M. capricolum genome has two sets of rRNA gene clusters, where the arrangement is in the order of (5')16S-23S-5S(3'). The spacer region between 16S and 23S rDNA is extremely rich in AT and does not carry any tRNA genes.

Base Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequence of the rrnB 16S ribosomal RNA gene from Mycoplasma capricolum.

The nucleotide sequences of the rrnB 16S ribosomal RNA gene and its 5'-and 3'-flanking regions from Mycoplasma capricolum have been determined. The coding sequence is 1521 base pairs long, being 21 base pairs shorter than that of the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA gene. The 16S rRNA sequence of M. capricolum reveals 74% and 76% identify with that of E. coli and Anacystis nidulans, respectively. The secondary structure model constructed from the M. capricolum 16S rRNA gene sequence resembles that proposed for E. coli 16S rRNA. A large stem structure can be constructed between the 5'- and 3'-flanking sequences of the 16S rRNA gene. The flanking regions are extremely rich in AT.

Base Sequence↗

Molecular cloning of ribosomal protein genes from Mycoplasma capricolum.

A Bg/II-fragment from the Mycoplasma capricolum DNA cloned into pBR322 has been found to contain a cluster of ribosomal protein genes. The recombinant plasmid, pMCB1088, includes a 9 kilobase-pair insert that codes for at least eight ribosomal proteins of M. capricolum. The protein genes are expressed in Escherichia coli cells.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Transfer RNA mischarging mediated by a mutant Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase.

We have isolated mutations in the Escherichia coli glnS gene encoding glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase [GlnS; L-glutamine:tRNAGln ligase (AMP-forming), EC 6.1.1.18] that give rise to gene products with altered specificity for tRNA and are designated "mischarging" enzymes. These were produced by nitrosoguanine mutagenesis of the glnS gene carried on a transducing phage (lambda pglnS+). We then selected for mischarging of su+3 tRNATyr with glutamine by requiring suppression of a glutamine-requiring beta-galactosidase amber mutation (lacZ1000). Three independently isolated mutants (glnS7, glnS8, and glnS9) were characterized by genetic and biochemical means. The enzymes encoded by glnS7, glnS8, and glnS9 appear to be highly selective for su+3 tRNATyr, because in vivo mischarging of other amber suppressor tRNAs was not detected. The GlnS mutants described here retain their capacity to correctly aminoacylate tRNAGln. All three independently isolated mutant genes encode proteins with isoelectric points that differ from those of the wild-type enzyme but are identical to each other. This suggests that only a single site in the enzyme structure is altered to give the observed mischarging properties. In vitro aminoacylation reactions with purified GlnS7 protein show that this enzyme can also mischarge some tRNA species lacking the amber anticodon. This is an example of mischarging phenotype conferred by a mutation in an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase gene; the results are discussed in the context of earlier genetic studies with mutant tRNAs.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Misaminoacylation by glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase: relaxed specificity in wild-type and mutant enzymes.

Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS) (EC 6.1.1.18) is a monomeric polypeptide of 553 amino acids. Its amino acid sequence and its gene (glnS) sequence are known. A structural gene mutation, glnS7, codes for a mischarging GlnRS, which acylates some noncognate tRNA species (e.g., su+3 tRNATyr) with glutamine. The mutant enzyme was shown to catalyze in vitro the acylation of glutamine to su+3 tRNATyr, but not to wild-type tRNATyr. The mutation responsible produces an amino acid change in the amino-terminal half of the enzyme. Unexpectedly, overproduction of wild-type GlnRS also leads to in vivo mischarging of su+3 tRNATyr. In vitro and in vivo studies have not revealed evidence for an attenuation or autogenous regulation mechanism for GlnRS, but have implicated transcriptional and translational control in the expression of this enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Six Schizosaccharomyces pombe tRNA genes including a gene for a tRNALys with an intervening sequence which cannot base-pair with the anticodon.

We report the sequences of six S. pombe tRNA genes including two genes for tRNAArg, and one gene each for tRNAGlu, tRNAHis, tRNALys and tRNAPhe. All tRNA genes are found independently in the genome and represent individual transcription units. The gene for tRNALys has an 8 bp long intervening sequence which cannot base-pair with the tRNA anticodon. In vitro transcription studies indicate that all genes are faithfully transcribed in a yeast extract. Sequence comparison of the 5' flanking regions of the tRNA genes did not show significant homologies; however, they are very rich in AT base pairs.

Anticodon↗

Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. I. Isolation and DNA sequence of the glnS gene.

We have isolated a lambda-transducing phage carrying the gene (glnS) for Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. The location of the glnS gene within the 13.5-kilobase E. coli DNA transducing fragment was determined by genetic means. The glnS gene was recloned into plasmid pBR322 and its nucleotide sequence was established. The DNA sequence translates to a protein of 550 amino acids.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗

Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase. II. Characterization of the glnS gene product.

Glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase has been purified by a simple, two-column procedure from an Escherichia coli K12 strain carrying the glnS structural gene on plasmid pBR322. The primary sequence of this enzyme as derived from the DNA sequence (see accompanying paper) has been confirmed. Manual Edman degradation was used to identify the NH2-terminal sequence of the protein. Oligopeptides scattered throughout the primary sequence of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase were sequenced by the gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method and matched to the theoretical peptides derived from the translated DNA sequence. The expected carboxyl terminus at position 550 was verified by carboxypeptidase B digestion. The primary sequence of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase contains no extensive sequence repeats. A search was made for sequence homologies between this enzyme and the few other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for which primary sequences are available. A single homologous region is shared by at least three of the synthetases examined here.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nonsense suppression in Schizosaccharomyces pombe: the S. pombe Sup3-e tRNASerUGA gene is active in S. cerevisiae.

The gene encoding the efficient UGA suppressor sup3-e of Schizosaccharomyces pombe was isolated by in vivo transformation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae UGA mutants with S. pombe sup3-e DNA. DNA from a clone bank of EcoRI fragments from a S. pombe sup3-e strain in the hybrid yeast vector YRp17 was used to transform the S. cerevisiae multiple auxotroph his4-260 leu2-2 trp1-1 to prototrophy. Transformants were isolated at a low frequency; they lost the ability to grow in minimal medium after passaging in non-selective media. This suggested the presence of the suppressor gene on the non-integrative plasmid. Plasmid DNA, isolated from the transformed S. cerevisiae cells and subsequently amplified in E. coli, transformed S. cerevisiae his4-260 leu2-2 trp1-1 to prototrophy. In this way a 2.4 kb S. pombe DNA fragment carrying the sup3-e gene was isolated. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of two tRNA coding regions separated by a spacer of only seven nucleotides. The sup3-e tRNASerUGA tRNA gene is followed by a sequence coding for the initiator tRNAMet. The transformation results demonstrate that the cloned S. pombe UGA suppressor is active in S. cerevisiae UGA mutant strains.

Ascomycota↗

The ribosomal genes of Mycoplasma capricolum.

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from Mycoplasma capricolum is more similar to that of the gram-positive bacteria than that of the gram-negative bacteria. The presence of two copies of rRNA genes in M. capricolum genome has been demonstrated. The two different rRNA gene clusters have been cloned in E. coli plasmid vectors and analyzed for the rRNA gene organizations, demonstrating that the gene arrangement is in the order of 16S, 23S, and 5S rDNA. The ribosomes of M. capricolum contain about 30 species of proteins in 50S and 20 in 30S subunits. The number and size of the ribosomal proteins are not significantly different from those of other eubacterial ribosomes.

Base Sequence↗