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Regulation of -1 ribosomal frameshifting directed by cocksfoot mottle sobemovirus genome.

The polyprotein of Cocksfoot mottle virus (CfMV) is encoded by two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). The putative replicase of CfMV is produced as a part of the polyprotein from ORF2b by the -1 ribosomal frameshifting mechanism. The signals leading to -1 ribosomal frameshifting directed by CfMV RNA are the slippery heptamer UUUAAAC and a stem-loop structure starting seven nucleotides downstream from the heptamer. We studied the effect of different parts of the CfMV genome on the -1 ribosomal frameshifting efficiency using a wheat germ extract transcription/translation system. A point mutation in the slippery heptamer and a mutation deleting the stem-loop structure prevented frameshifting. Seventy nucleotides of CfMV sequence, including the slippery sequence and the stem-loop structure, was found to act as a minimal region for frameshifting. Interestingly, a termination codon introduced into the -1-frame 27 nucleotides downstream of the stem-loop structure increased frameshift efficiency threefold, while a similarly located termination codon in the 0-frame had no effect. Even fourfold to fivefold efficiencies were observed when the polyprotein encoding ORFs were fused together, which led simultaneously to the formation of a termination codon downstream of the frameshift signal. Possible reasons underlying these observations are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Initiation of translation of the cauliflower mosaic virus genome from a polycistronic mRNA: evidence from deletion mutagenesis.

Mutants with deletions in the open reading frame (ORF) VII to I region of the cauliflower mosaic virus genome were constructed in vitro and tested for infectivity by inoculation of plants. Sequences within ORF VII and the intergenomic region between ORFs VII and I are not required for viral infectivity. Nevertheless, the location of translation initiation and termination codons within this region governs the infectivity of the virus. Firstly, translation beginning at the initiation codon of ORF VII should reach an in-phase termination codon before the initiation codon of ORF I. Secondly, an initiation codon should be located in the vicinity of the sequence homologous to methionine tRNA, the proposed primer binding site for reverse transcription. Results suggest translation from a polycistronic mRNA by a ;relay race' mechanism whereby ribosomes after passing a termination codon re-initiate protein synthesis at the nearest AUG codon.

Journal Article↗

Virus-like genetic organization and expression strategy for a double-stranded RNA genetic element associated with biological control of chestnut blight.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the largest double-stranded (ds) RNA present in hypovirulent strain EP713 of the chestnut blight pathogen, Cryphonectria parasitica, was determined and the predicted genetic organization was confirmed by translational mapping analysis. The deduced RNA sequence was 12 712 bp in length, excluding the terminal poly(A):poly(U) homopolymer domain. The strand terminating with 3'-poly(A) contained two contiguous large open reading frames (ORF A and ORF B) beginning at nucleotide residues 496-498 and extending to nucleotide positions 11 859-11 861. The junction between ORF A and ORF B consisted of the sequence 5'-UAAUG-3', where UAA served as the termination codon for ORF A and AUG was the 5'-proximal initiation codon within ORF B. ORF A (622 codons in length, excluding the termination codon) was recently shown to encode two polypeptides, p29 and p40, which were generated from a nascent polyprotein by an autocatalytic event mediated by p29 (Choi et al., 1991). A similar autocatalytic event was observed during in vitro translation of ORF B (3165 codons in length) resulting in the release of a 48 kd polypeptide from the amino-terminal portion of the ORF B-encoded polyprotein. These results are discussed in terms of the opportunities they provide for elucidating the molecular basis of transmissible hypovirulence and possible origins of hypovirulence-associated dsRNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Clinical phenotypes and molecular characterization of Hb H-Paksé disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hemoglobin Constant Spring (Hb CS), caused by a termination codon mutation (TAA-->CAA) in the a2 gene, is the most common non-deletional type of a thalassemia in Southeast Asia. This mutation can most easily be detected by loss of an MseI-restriction site (T/TAA) spanning the termination codon. Recently, we sequenced the a globin genes from patients with a thalassemia in whom this MseI site was absent. This revealed, a previously described termination codon mutation (TAA-->TAT) associated with Hb Paksé. This prompted us to re-evaluate the molecular basis of a thalassaemia in other Thai patients with non-deletional types of Hb H disease. DESIGN AND METHODS: DNA samples from 30 patients, previously diagnosed as having Hb H-CS disease, were characterized by direct genomic sequencing and by using a mismatched polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Clinical and hematologic data were assessed. RESULTS: Hemoglobin electrophoresis in almost all 30 unrelated patients with non-deletional a thalassemia revealed a slow migrating band resembling Hb CS. Five of these patients were found to have Hb H-Paksé disease and the remainder had Hb H-CS disease. Comparing the hematology in patients with these two genotypes, no significant differences were found except that the proportion of Hb H was higher in patients with Hb H-Paksé disease. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that termination codon mutations may have been previously misidentified in many cases of non-deletional Hb H disease. Findings from six unrelated families described in this study suggest that the proportion of patients with the Hb Paksé mutation might be underestimated and that this mutation could be prevalent in Southeast Asia. Analysis of mismatched-PCR-RFLP, described here, was shown to provide an unequivocal diagnosis and will be applicable in population screening programs.

Adolescent↗

CcmF(C) involved in cytochrome c maturation is present in a large sized complex in wheat mitochondria.

In land plant mitochondria, c-type cytochromes are assembled via a mechanism similar to that found in Gram-negative bacteria and different from that used by mitochondria from other eukaryotes. The wheat mitochondrial genome encodes CCM (for cytochrome c maturation) proteins, among them CcmF(C), a protein similar to the C-terminal part of the bacterial CcmF. The gene is transcribed into a 1.7 kb transcript at steady state. However, the 3' termini of the transcript were found to occur upstream of the deduced gene termination codon. This discrepancy was solved by RNA editing that introduces a novel termination codon, thus shortening the reading frame by 27 codons. The processed transcript is translated into a protein integrated in the mitochondrial inner membrane. We also show that the protein is part of a large (700 kDa) protein complex, that possibly represents a cytochrome c assembly complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutational analysis of the monopartite geminivirus beet curly top virus.

Mutants of the monopartite geminivirus beet curly top virus have been screened for infectivity and symptom development in Nicotiana benthamiana and Beta vulgaris, for replication competence in N. benthamiana leaf discs, and for transmission by the leafhopper Circulifer tenellus. Disruption of open reading frame (ORF) V2 by the introduction of a termination codon resulted in symptomless infection of N. benthamiana associated with low levels of virus and reduced single-stranded (ss) DNA and prevented systemic infection of B. vulgaris. Reduced levels of ssDNA were produced by the mutant in N. benthamiana leaf discs, suggesting that V2 affects the synthesis or accumulation of this viral DNA form. Mutants in which ORF C2 had been truncated by the introduction of termination codons or by frame-shifting remained highly infectious and induced severe symptoms in both N. benthamiana and B. vulgaris. Similarly, a mutant containing a termination codon within ORF C3 was highly infectious and induced severe symptoms in N. benthamiana although infectivity in B. vulgaris was greatly reduced, symptoms were extremely mild, and virus levels were low. A synergistic effect of a double mutation in ORFs C2 and C3, manifested by the inability of mutants to systemically infect N. benthamiana and the production of reduced amounts of ssDNA in N. benthamiana leaf discs, suggests that both ORFs are functional in this host. A mutant containing a termination codon within the 5' terminus of ORF C4 produced severe symptoms in both N. benthamiana and B. vulgaris resembling those induced by wild-type virus. Comparison with the phenotypes of previously characterized ORF C4 mutants suggests that a conserved core sequence of this ORF is an important symptom determinant. ORF C2, C3, and C4 mutants produced virus particles and were transmitted by C. tenellus, eliminating agroinoculation as a contributory factor to the mutant phenotypes. Our results are compared with those derived from mutagenesis studies on related bipartite geminiviruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mouse thymidylate synthase messenger RNA lacks a 3' untranslated region.

Analysis of the sequence of cDNA corresponding to mouse thymidylate synthase (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate:dUMP C-methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.45) mRNA revealed that the termination codon TAA was followed immediately by a poly(A) sequence. This raised the possibility that mouse thymidylate synthase mRNA lacks a 3' untranslated region. In the present study, we have further investigated this possibility. DNA corresponding to the 3' end of the thymidylate synthase gene was isolated from a genomic library. The sequence of the genomic DNA was identical to that of the cDNA in the coding region. However, the termination codon was TAG in the genomic sequence rather than TAA, and poly(A) was not present in the genomic DNA. Sequences flanking the site of poly(A) addition were in good agreement with polyadenylylation consensus sequences. S1 nuclease analysis revealed that approximately 80% of the thymidylate synthase mRNA molecules were polyadenylylated at the termination codon. A secondary polyadenylylation site was detected 190-200 nucleotides downstream of the primary site. We conclude that the major species of mouse thymidylate synthase mRNA lacks a 3' untranslated region and that the final A of the termination codon is added by poly(A) polymerase. It appears that a 3' untranslated region is not essential for the accumulation or translation of this mRNA.

Animals↗

The effect of specific mutations at and around the gag-pol gene junction of Moloney murine leukaemia virus.

By carrying out oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, in vitro, on a 3.3 kb XhoI-HindIII fragment from Moloney murine leukaemia virus Mo-MuLV proviral DNA, inserted into the phagemid pTZ19R, nine separate fragments have been prepared in which mutations have been inserted at and around the gag-pol gene junction. Using these mutant fragments Mo-MuLV proviral DNA has been reassembled and cloned into pBR322. Examination of the mutant proviral DNAs in mouse culture cells indicates that a terminator codon at the gag-pol junction is essential for function, but any of the three chain terminator codons gives an active virus. Also the region of secondary structure surrounding the terminator codon must be preserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Effectiveness of distal gene translation in polycistrons depends upon the arrangement of regulatory signals on a template].

The role of the translational terminator and initiator signals arrangement for two adjacent genes in polycistronic mRNA has been studied. Semisynthetic beta-galactosidase gene (lacZ) of E. coli and fragment of phage M13 DNA (with promoter PVIII, gene IX, and part of gene VIII) were used for constructing of the IX-VIII-lacZ artificial polycistronic operon. Cloning of the constructs into pBR322 vector resulted in a number of pLZ381N plasmids differing by the mutual arrangement of gene VIII translation terminator codon and SD site and initiator codon (SD-ATG-region) of lacZ gene. The mutual arrangement of gene VIII terminator codon and SDlacZ-ATG region has been altered by means of deletions and insertions that have not affected lacZ translation initiation signals. The beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) synthesis in E. coli harbouring different types of pLZ381N plasmids has been found to depend on type of cistron coupling (gene VIII and lacZ). The overlapping of terminator and initiator codons (ATGA) for genes VIII and lacZ (type I of polycistrons) provide approximately equal translational level for both cistrons. On the other side, levels of beta-Gal synthesis in case of polycistrons type II (gene VIII stop-codon position at the beginning of SDlacZ or 10 nucleotides upstream) were 20-30 times as high as for type I. Differences in beta-Gal levels have also been found for variants of VIII-lacZ coupling in types IV and III polycistrons (the SDlacZ-ATG region in 27-50 nucleotides downstream from the proximal cistron VIII stop-codon, which, in turn, is 41 nucleotides upstream this terminator). These data cannot be explained on the basis of possible secondary structure including the SDlacZ-ATG region and other parts of polycistronic mRNA. In all these cases similarly stable stem-loop structures have been found. Therefore, the arrangement of the translation termination and initiation signals for two adjacent genes in essential for distal gene translation efficiency. One can imagine that ribosome or its 30S subpartical, stalling on the proximal gene terminator codon, affects the distal gene translation initiation.

Coliphages↗

Nonsense mutations affect C1 inhibitor messenger RNA levels in patients with type I hereditary angioneurotic edema.

Members of two unrelated families with type I hereditary angioneurotic edema (HANE) were found to have elevated levels of C1 inhibitor (C1INH) mRNA. DNA sequence analysis of PCR-amplified monocyte C1INH mRNA revealed normal and mutant transcripts, as expected in this disorder that occurs in heterozygous individuals. Single base mutations near the 3' end of the coding sequence were identified in affected members of each family. One mutation consisted of insertion of an adenosine at position 1304 which created a premature termination codon (TAA), whereas the second consisted of deletion of the thymidine at position 1298 which created a premature termination codon (TGA) 23 nucleotides downstream. These mutations are approximately 250 nucleotides upstream of the natural termination codon. Nuclear run-off experiments in one kindred revealed no difference in transcription rates of the C1INH gene between the patients and normals. C1INH mRNA half-life experiments were not technically feasible because of the prolonged half-life of the normal transcript. Dideoxynucleotide primer extension experiments allowed the differentiation of the normal and mutant transcripts. These studies showed that the mutant transcript was not decreased relative to the normal, and this therefore was at least partially responsible for the C1INH mRNA elevation. This elevation may be due to the decreased catabolism of the mutant transcript.

Angioedema↗

Nucleotide sequence of the vaccinia virus thymidine kinase gene and the nature of spontaneous frameshift mutations.

Nucleotide sequencing of a 1,300-base-pair vaccinia virus DNA segment previously shown to contain a thymidine kinase (TK) gene revealed an uninterrupted reading frame of 177 codons capable of producing a polypeptide with a molecular weight of 20,102. Mapping of the TK mRNA by primer extension indicated a unique 5' end that precedes the initiation codon by only six nucleotides. Multiple 3' ends within a 10-nucleotide region, about 30 nucleotides beyond the termination codon, were located by nuclease digestion of DNA-RNA hybrids, and the length of the TK transcript, exclusive of polyadenylate, was estimated to be approximately 570 nucleotides. The region preceding the TK mRNA start site is extremely A + T rich and has sequence homologies with three other early genes. Genetic information is so compressed in this region of the DNA that the putative transcriptional regulatory sequence of the TK gene overlaps the coding sequence of a late gene. Only nine nucleotides separate the termination codon of the late gene from the initiation codon of the TK gene. Downstream, 66 nucleotides separate the TK termination codon from the apparent initiation codon of another early gene. The nature of three independent TK- mutants was revealed by nucleotide sequencing. Each has a nucleotide reiteration leading to a +1 frameshift and a nonsense codon downstream. The location of one frameshift mutation provided evidence that the first ATG is used for initiation of protein synthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cycloheximide facilitates the identification of aberrant transcripts resulting from a novel splice-site mutation in COL17A1 in a patient with generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa.

Patients with generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa often show decreased expression of type XVII collagen, a transmembrane hemidesmosomal protein encoded by COL17A1. This report documents a novel splice-site mutation in COL17A1 in a patient with generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa, and applies a new methodology to define and characterize the resulting mRNA splice variants. Mutational analysis of COL17A1 identified a maternally inherited G-to-T transversion at the -1 position of exon 32. This acceptor splice-site mutation led to the formation of aberrant transcripts present at extremely low levels. Based on our recent finding that cycloheximide stabilized mutant COL17A1 transcripts in keratinocytes homozygous for a frameshift mutation, the effects of the splice-site mutation on splicing of COL17A1 transcripts were determined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of total RNA from keratinocytes incubated for 2.5 h in the presence or absence of 10 microg cycloheximide per ml. Using this approach, an abnormally spliced transcript was identified that contains an extra 264 bases upstream from exon 32, resulting in a premature termination codon 27 bp downstream from the cryptic splice site. Three other splice variants, including one derived from the skipping of exon 32, were also identified. These results indicate the usefulness of cycloheximide treatment in evaluating the abnormal processing of mRNA due to splice-site mutations, because: (i) aberrant splicing often generates a premature termination codon, (ii) transcripts with premature termination codons can occur at low or undetectable levels due to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, and (iii) the levels of these transcripts can be increased by cycloheximide.

Adult↗

Nonsense mutations in the alcohol dehydrogenase gene of Drosophila melanogaster correlate with an abnormal 3' end processing of the corresponding pre-mRNA.

From bacteria to mammals, mutations that generate premature termination codons have been shown to result in the reduction in the abundance of the corresponding mRNA. In mammalian cells, more often than not, the reduction happens while the RNA is still associated with the nucleus. Here, it is reported that mutations in the alcohol dehydrogenase gene (Adh) of Drosophila melanogaster that generate premature termination codons lead to reduced levels of cytoplasmic and nuclear mRNA. Unexpectedly, it has been found that the poly(A) tails of Adh mRNAs and pre-mRNAs that carry a premature termination codon are longer than in the wild-type transcript. The more 5' terminal the mutation is, the longer is the poly(A) tail of the transcript. These findings suggest that the integrity of the coding region may be required for accurate mRNA 3' end processing.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Mutations of the cathepsin C gene are responsible for Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome.

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and severe early onset periodontitis that results in the premature loss of the primary and secondary dentitions. A major gene locus for PLS has been mapped to a 2.8 cM interval on chromosome 11q14. Correlation of physical and genetic maps of this interval indicate it includes at least 40 ESTs and six known genes including the lysosomal protease cathepsin C gene (CTSC). The CTSC message is expressed at high levels in a variety of immune cells including polymorphonuclear leucocytes, macrophages, and their precursors. By RT-PCR, we found CTSC is also expressed in epithelial regions commonly affected by PLS, including the palms, soles, knees, and oral keratinised gingiva. The 4.7 kb CTSC gene consists of two exons. Sequence analysis of CTSC from subjects affected with PLS from five consanguineous Turkish families identified four different mutations. An exon 1 nonsense mutation (856C-->T) introduces a premature stop codon at amino acid 286. Three exon 2 mutations were identified, including a single nucleotide deletion (2692delA) of codon 349 introducing a frameshift and premature termination codon, a 2 bp deletion (2673-2674delCT) that results in introduction of a stop codon at amino acid 343, and a G-->A substitution in codon 429 (2931G-->A) introducing a premature termination codon. All PLS patients were homozygous for cathepsin C mutations inherited from a common ancestor. Parents and sibs heterozygous for cathepsin C mutations do not show either the palmoplantar hyperkeratosis or severe early onset periodontitis characteristic of PLS. A more complete understanding of the functional physiology of cathepsin C carries significant implications for understanding normal and abnormal skin development and periodontal disease susceptibility.

Adult↗

Nucleotide sequence of the Escherichia coli gene for lipid A disaccharide synthase.

The lpxB gene of Escherichia coli, believed to be the structural gene for lipid A disaccharide synthase, is located in the min 4 region of the chromosome. It is adjacent to and clockwise of the lpxA gene, which is thought to encode UDP-N-acetylglucosamine acyltransferase. Preliminary evidence suggests that lpxA and lpxB are cotranscribed in the clockwise direction and thus constitute part of a previously unknown operon (D. N. Crowell, M. S. Anderson, and C. R. H. Raetz, J. Bacteriol. 168:152-159, 1986). We now report the complete nucleotide sequence of a 1,522-base-pair PvuII-HincII fragment known to carry the lpxB gene. This sequence contained an open reading frame of 1,149 base pairs, in agreement with the predicted size, location, and orientation of lpxB. There was a second open reading frame 5' to, and in the same orientation as, lpxB that corresponded to lpxA. The ochre codon terminating lpxA was shown to overlap the methionine codon identified as the initiation codon for lpxB, suggesting that these genes are cotranscribed and translationally coupled. A third open reading frame was also shown to begin at the 3' end of lpxB with analogous overlap between the opal codon terminating lpxB and the methionine codon that putatively initiates translation downstream of lpxB in the clockwise direction. These results argue that at least three genes constitute a translationally coupled operon in the min 4 region of the E. coli chromosome. The accompanying paper by Tomasiewicz and McHenry (J. Bacteriol. 169:5735-5744, 1987) presents 4.35 kilobases of DNA sequence, beginning at the 3' end of lpxB, and argues that dnaE and several other open reading frames may be members of this operon.

Acyltransferases↗

The translational termination signal database (TransTerm) now also includes initiation contexts.

The TransTerm database of termination codon contexts has been extended to include sense codon usage, and initiation codon contexts. The database was constructed from 23,721 coding sequences from 93 organisms. The database contains: a) the sequence around the termination codon (-10, +10); b) the sequence around the initiation codon (-20, +10); c) the length, 'G+C%' of the third position of codons (GC3), the 'codon adaptation index' (CAI) and the 'effective number of codons' statistic (Nc); d) summary tables for each organism including total codon usage, stop codon and tetranucleotide stop-signal usage, and matrices tallying base frequencies at each position around the initiation and termination codons. The data are arranged to facilitate investigation of the relationships between the three phases of protein synthesis. The database is available electronically from EMBL.

Animals↗

Recognition of yeast mRNAs as "nonsense containing" leads to both inhibition of mRNA translation and mRNA degradation: implications for the control of mRNA decapping.

A critical step in the degradation of many eukaryotic mRNAs is a decapping reaction that exposes the transcript to 5' to 3' exonucleolytic degradation. The dual role of the cap structure as a target of mRNA degradation and as the site of assembly of translation initiation factors has led to the hypothesis that the rate of decapping would be specified by the status of the cap binding complex. This model makes the prediction that signals that promote mRNA decapping should also alter translation. To test this hypothesis, we examined the decapping triggered by premature termination codons to determine whether there is a down-regulation of translation when mRNAs were recognized as "nonsense containing." We constructed an mRNA containing a premature stop codon in which we could measure the levels of both the mRNA and the polypeptide encoded upstream of the premature stop codon. Using this system, we analyzed the effects of premature stop codons on the levels of protein being produced per mRNA. In addition, by using alterations either in cis or in trans that inactivate different steps in the recognition and degradation of nonsense-containing mRNAs, we demonstrated that the recognition of a nonsense codon led to a decrease in the translational efficiency of the mRNA. These observations argue that the signal from a premature termination codon impinges on the translation machinery and suggest that decapping is a consequence of the change in translational status of the mRNA.

Blotting, Northern↗

Expression of the mutant (1735T-DEL) tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase gene from hypophosphatasia patients.

Hypophosphatasia (HOPS) is an inherited disorder characterized by defects in skeletal mineralization due to the deficiency of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). To date, various mutations in the TNSALP gene have been identified. Especially, a deletion of T at position 1735 (1735T-del) located in exon 12 has been detected in three genetically unrelated Japanese patients, which seems to be one of the hot spots among the causative mutations in Japanese HOPS patients. 1735T-del causes a frame shift downstream from codon 503 (Leu), and consequently the normal termination codon at 508 is eliminated. Since a new inframe termination codon appears at codon 588 in the mutant DNA, the resultant protein is expected to have 80 additional amino acids. Expression of the mutant TNSALP gene using COS-1 cells demonstrated that the protein translated from the mutant 1735T-del had undetectable ALP activity, and its molecule size was larger than normal, as expected. Interestingly, an immunoprecipitation study of patients' sera using antibody against TNSALP revealed an abnormal protein which corresponded in size to the mutated TNSALP expressed by COS-1 cells, suggesting that the abnormal TNSALP is made by HOPS patients. The detection of TNSALP in cells transfected with 1735T-del using an immunofluorescent method exhibited only a faint signal on the cell surface, but an intense intracellular fluorescence after permeabilization.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗