Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Stop codon”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 577 records · Page 32Linked to original sources

The carboxy-terminal extension of the D1-precursor protein is dispensable for a functional photosystem II complex in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

The D1-precursor protein of the photosystem II reaction centre contains a carboxy-terminal extension whose proteolytic removal is necessary for oxygen-evolving activity. To address the question of the role of the carboxy-terminal extension in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we truncated D1 by converting codon Ser345 of the psbA gene into a stop codon. Particle gun transformation of an in vitro modified psbA gene fragment also carrying mutations conferring herbicide resistance yielded a homoplasmic transformant containing the stop codon. Since oxygen evolution capacity is not affected in this mutant as compared with herbicide-resistant control cells, the carboxy-terminal extension is dispensable for a functional photosystem II complex under normal growth conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Histidine 62 in ArfB is required for stop codon-independent peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis on the stalled ribosome.

Translating ribosomes can stall on mRNA for various reasons, including nuclease cleavage, arrest peptide sequences or ribosome collisions. In Escherichia coli, several ribosome rescue factors act to release ribosomes stalled at the 3' end of mRNA. Among these factors, ArfB can rescue stalled ribosomes without the help of other factors. ArfB consists of an N-terminal domain containing the catalytic GGQ motif, which mediates peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis, and a C-terminal extension that functions as a sensor for recognizing stalled ribosomes. However, how these two regions coordinate to resolve ribosome stalling remains unclear. Here, using a reconstituted translation system, we found the functional importance of histidine residues in the N-terminal domain of ArfB. In particular, histidine at position 62 in E. coli ArfB was required for stop codon-independent fMet-tRNA hydrolysis, whereas its substitution did not affect affinity for the ribosome. Furthermore, directed hydroxyl radical probing revealed that H62A mutation did not significantly alter the overall positioning of either the N-terminal domain or the C-terminal extension of ArfB on the ribosome. These findings suggest that H62 contributes to ArfB function during a step following initial ribosome binding, thereby facilitating peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis.

Ribosomes↗

Identification of a novel HLA-DQA1 null allele, DQA1*0403N, from an East African woman.

We report a novel DQA1 allele (DQA1*0403N) identified during sequence-based HLA-DQA1 typing of a Kenyan population. The new allele is identical to DQA1*0401 at exon 2 except for a single-nucleotide substitution at codon 53, changing it from lysine to a stop codon (CAA-->TAA). The substitution at codon 53 was confirmed by sequencing two separate polymerase chain reaction products and by sequencing multiple clones obtained following TOPO-TA cloning. The resulting stop codon at position of codon 53 in exon 2 is predicted to produce a non-functional DQA1 alpha-chain. The new allele has been named by the WHO nomenclature committee as DQA1*0403N. This is the first report of a null allele detected in the DQA1 gene.

Adult↗

Novel splice variants of human ADAR2 mRNA: skipping of the exon encoding the dsRNA-binding domains, and multiple C-terminal splice sites.

We report here two previously unknown alternative splice sites in the mRNA of human adenosine deaminase acting on RNA type 2 (ADAR2), an RNA editing enzyme. One splices out the whole of exon 2, which encodes two double-stranded RNA-binding domains (dsRBDs), resulting in a frameshift that introduces a stop codon in the downstream exon. This variant accounts for between 13% and 20% of the total ADAR2 mRNA in each developmental stage and brain region examined, even though its translated product is not expressed at levels that are detectable by Western blot analysis. The other new splice site is located in exon 9, 83 nucleotides downstream of the stop codon for the long C-terminus, resulting in a new 3' untranslated region (UTR) that is about 80 bp longer than the previously reported short C-terminus. The variant produced by this splice site has a stop codon at the same site as that in ADAR2 mRNA containing canonical exons 9 and 10, and is predicted to be translated as an enzymatically active ADAR2 protein. With these two additional splice sites, a total of 48 mRNA variants are theoretically possible, because each splicing event occurs independently. Among them, variants containing the long C-terminus are translated in human brains in situ, implying that alternative splicing in the 3' UTR of ADAR2 might regulate translational efficiency and mRNA stability in vivo.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

The disparate nature of "intergenic" polyadenylation sites.

The termination of mature eukaryotic mRNAs occurs at specific polyadenylation sites located downstream from stop codons in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR). An accurate delineation of these sites is essential for the study of 3'-UTR-based gene regulation and for the design of pertinent probes for transcriptome analysis. Although typical poly(A) sites are located between 0 and 2 kb from the stop codon, EST sequence analyses have identified sites located at unexpectedly long ranges (5-10 kb) in a number of genes. Here we perform a complete mapping of EST and full-length cDNA sequences on the mouse and human genome to observe putative poly(A) sites extending beyond annotated 3'-ends and into the intergenic regions. We introduce several quality parameters for poly(A) site prediction and train a classification tree to associate P-values to predicted sites. We observe a higher than background level of high-scoring sites up to 12-15 kb past the stop codon, both in human and mouse. This leads to an estimate of about 5000 human genes having unreported 3'-end extensions and about 3500 novel polyadenylated transcripts lying in present "intergenic" regions. These high-scoring, long-range poly(A) sites corresponding to novel transcripts and gene extensions should be incorporated into current human and mouse gene repositories.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Highly conserved NIKS tetrapeptide is functionally essential in eukaryotic translation termination factor eRF1.

Class-1 polypeptide chain release factors (RFs) play a key role in translation termination. Eukaryotic (eRF1) and archaeal class-1 RFs possess a highly conserved Asn-Ile-Lys-Ser (NIKS) tetrapeptide located at the N-terminal domain of human eRF1. In the three-dimensional structure, NIKS forms a loop between helices. The universal occurrence and exposed nature of this motif provoke the appearance of hypotheses postulating an essential role of this tetrapeptide in stop codon recognition and ribosome binding. To approach this problem experimentally, site-directed mutagenesis of the NIKS (positions 61-64) in human eRF1 and adjacent amino acids has been applied followed by determination of release activity and ribosome-binding capacity of mutants. Substitutions of Asn61 and Ile62 residues of the NIKS cause a decrease in the ability of eRF1 mutants to promote termination reaction in vitro, but to a different extent depending on the stop codon specificity, position, and nature of the substituting residues. This observation points to a possibility that Asn-Ile dipeptide modulates the specific recognition of the stop codons by eRF1. Some replacements at positions 60, 63, and 64 cause a negligible (if any) effect in contrast to what has been deduced from some current hypotheses predicting the structure of the termination codon recognition site in eRF1. Reduction in ribosome binding revealed for Ile62, Ser64, Arg65, and Arg68 mutants argues in favor of the essential role played by the right part of the NIKS loop in interaction with the ribosome, most probably with ribosomal RNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Deletion and insertion mutations in early region 1a of type 5 adenovirus that produce cold-sensitive or defective phenotypes for transformation.

On the basis of earlier findings showing that H5hr1 (hr1) is cold sensitive for transformation, a series of mutants were constructed so that they contained deletions or insertions in different sites of early region 1a (E1a) to ascertain: (i) whether the cold-sensitive phenotype of hr1 was the result of the identified single-base pair deletion of nucleotide 1,055 or due to a missense mutation at another site and (ii) what region and how much of the E1a 51-kilodalton protein is actually required to produce cell transformation. A mutant, H5dl101 (dl101), was constructed to contain a 5-base pair deletion of nucleotides 1,008 to 1,012, which produced a frameshift and a subsequent stop codon at nucleotide 1,241. This mutant, which should encode a truncated 33-kilodalton protein in place of the wild-type 51-kilodalton protein, had a cold-sensitive phenotype for transformation essentially identical to hr1. Consonant with this finding, a mutant (H5in106) engineered to contain a 16-base pair insertion initiated after nucleotide 1,009, with a stop codon beginning at the newly inserted nucleotide 1,013, also had a cold-sensitive phenotype like hr1 and dl101. It is striking, however, that a mutant (H5dl105) with a 69-base pair deletion beginning at nucleotide 1,003, and having a stop codon at nucleotide 1,544, was totally defective for transformation at any temperature. Transfection studies with plasmids containing the E1a or E1a and E1b genes of sub309, hr1, and dl101 further revealed that the cold-sensitive transformation phenotype observed could be exhibited in the absence of viral E1b gene expression.

Adenoviridae↗

The frequency of pre-core gene mutations in chronic hepatitis B infection: a study of Malaysian subjects.

A retrospective study was carried out to determine the frequency of the pre-core stop codon mutant virus in a group of chronic hepatitis B carriers: 81 cases were considered [33 hepatits B e antigen (HBe) positive and 48 HBe negative]. All of the HBe positive cases had detectable viral DNA by hybridization analysis; in the case of the HBe negative cases, one third had detectable viral DNA by hybridization analysis and two thirds had HBV DNA detectable by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Pre-core stop codon mutant detection was carried out on all specimens using allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization following PCR amplification of the target sequence. The pre-core mutant was detected in 13/33 (39.4%) of HBe positive cases and in 32/48 (66.7%) of HBe negative cases. Sequence analysis was carried out on 8 of the 16 HBe negative specimens that did not carry the pre-core mutant virus to determine the molecular basis for the HBe minus phenotype in these cases: the 1762/1764 TA paired mutation in the second AT rich region of the core promoter was detected in five cases; a start codon mutation was detected in one case. The predominant mutation resulting in the HBe minus phenotype in our isolates was the 1896A pre-core ("pre-core stop codon") mutation; other mutations responsible for the phenotype included the core promoter paired mutation and pre-core start codon mutation. In view of the high frequency of the pre-core mutant virus, sequence analysis was performed to determine the virus genotype on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of codon 15. The sequences of 21 wild type virus (14 HBe positive and 7 HBe negative cases) were examined: 15 were found to be codon 15 CCT variants (71.4%); the frequency in the HBe positive group was 12/14 (85.7%), while that in the HBe negative group was 3/7 (42.9%). The high frequency of the codon 15 CCT variant in association with the frequent occurrence of the pre-core mutant in our isolates concurs with the results of other studies.

Base Sequence↗

Ribosome release modulates basal level expression of the trp operon of Escherichia coli.

The leader peptide stop codon (UGA) of the Escherichia coli trp operon was replaced by UAA and UAG. The transcriptional behavior of the mutated leader regions in vitro and the extent of transcription termination observed with each in vivo were virtually identical to that of the wild type leader region. Introduction of a release factor 1 (UAA- and UAG-specific) mutation into strains with the different stop codons caused increased termination in strains with UAA and UAG, but not with UGA (in cells grown in the presence of tryptophan). This finding provides evidence for the view that ribosome release from the leader peptide stop codon is an important event in setting the basal level of transcription readthrough at the trp attenuator.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genotypic characteristics of HTLV-II isolates from Amerindian and non-Indian populations.

The Amerindian human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II isolate HTLV-IIG12 has been demonstrated to be an HTLV-IIb with several unique features, including several restriction enzyme site changes, a distinctive pre-gag region, a stop codon within the pol gene, and an extended Tax protein. In this study, HTLV-II isolates from Amerindian and non-Indian populations were characterized by restriction enzyme site analysis to determine the prevalent HTLV-II subtype. In addition, DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analyses were used to probe for the HTLV-IIG12 pre-gag region. Our results showed that of 13 Guaymi Indian isolates subtyped, all were HTLV-IIb, and that approximately one third of 17 isolates had the unique pre-gag region. While other HTLV-II-infected groups contained both HTLV-IIa and HTLV-IIb isolates, none of these isolates showed evidence of the distinctive HTLV-IIG12 pre-gag region. Lastly, DNA sequence analysis was used to determine the prevalence of the stop codon within the pol gene open reading frame. These analyses revealed that the occurrence of a stop codon within this sequence appeared to be characteristic of most HTLV-IIb subtypes. These results further our understanding of the genetic variations and evolution of the HTLV-II viruses within the endemically infected Amerindian populations, as well as U.S. intravenous drug users and other non-Indian populations.

Base Sequence↗

Functional comparison of the Mus musculus molossinus and Mus musculus domesticus Sry genes.

The Sry gene functions as a genetic switch initiating testicular development of the indifferent mammalian gonad. The Mus musculus molossinus Sry open reading frame (ORF) encodes a 395-amino acid transcription factor (mSry) that specifically binds and bends DNA through its N-terminal HMG domain and activates transcription through its long C-terminal (residues 144-366) glutamine/histidine-rich activation domain. The M. m. domesticus Sry ORF encodes a highly homologous, truncated protein (dSry) of approximately 230 amino acids, and the molecular basis for truncation is a point mutation that creates an amber stop codon within the activation domain. The mSry protein activates transcription of a Sry-responsive reporter gene in HeLa cells, but dSry does not. Gene swapping and in vitro DNA binding experiments revealed that lack of transcriptional activation by dSry was not the result of polymorphisms within the first 137 amino acids of the protein. Direct analysis of the C-terminal glutamine/histidine-rich domain revealed that dSry lacked a functional transcriptional activation domain. Fusion of the GAL4 DNA-binding domain to the C-terminal deletion mutants of the GAL4-mSry chimeric protein indicated that residues 263-345 of the glutamine/histidine-rich domain were necessary for high level transactivation. Furthermore, readthrough of the premature amber stop codon by transfer RNA suppression resulted in a strong GAL4-dSry transactivator. This demonstrated that the premature stop codon is the only polymorphism responsible for the inability of the dSry glutamine/histidine-rich region to transactivate.

Animals↗

Molecular basis of the thyroglobulin synthesis defect in Dutch goats.

A thyroglobulin (Tg) synthesis defect in Dutch goats causes congenital goiter and hypothyroidism. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive way and is linked to restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in the Tg gene. Previous studies showed that Tg mRNA isolated from the goiters was of normal size (8.4 kilobases). Translation of high mol wt polysomal Tg mRNA isolated from goiter in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte lysate resulted in a single 35,000 mol wt Tg polypeptide. Tg antigens analyzed in T4-arrested goiters were glycosylated and had mol wt of 40,000 and 32,000. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular lesion responsible for this disease. Polysomal Tg mRNA, therefore, was isolated, and cDNA was made using oligonucleotides as primers. This cDNA was multiplied by the polymerase chain reaction and cloned. In comparing the normal and abnormal sequences, we found a C-->G point mutation in exon 8 causing a change from TAC (Tyr)-->TAG (termination signal) at amino acid position 296. This mutation resulted in the appearance of a KpnI restriction site in the goiter DNA. The sequence of Tg mRNA preceding the stop codon was equal for normal and goitrous goats, except for one C-->T mutation in exon 5 which gave a Ser-->Leu transition. The KpnI site introduced by the C-->G point mutation was present in chromosomal DNA of the goitrous goats, making it possible to distinguish goats heterozygous for the defect from normal and goitrous animals. We calculated that the stop codon in exon 8 would result in a Tg polypeptide chain with a mol wt of 39,000, in good agreement with the mol wt of the in vitro and in vivo translation products. In conclusion, the C-->G mutation causing a stop codon in exon 8 is responsible for the Tg synthesis defect in Dutch goats.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The rat gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor internalizes via a beta-arrestin-independent, but dynamin-dependent, pathway: addition of a carboxyl-terminal tail confers beta-arrestin dependency.

This study examined the mechanism underlying the rat GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) internalization pathway by investigating the role of added/extended C-terminal tails and the effect of beta-arrestins and dynamin. The internalization of the wild-type (WT) rat GnRH-R, stop codon mutants, GnRH-R/TRH receptor (TRH-R) chimera, rat TRH-R, and catfish GnRH-R was examined using radioligand binding assay. Overexpression of beta-arrestin in COS-7 cells expressing each of the receptor constructs substantially increased endocytosis rate constants (k(e)) of the TRH-R, catfish GnRH-R, and GnRH-R/TRH-R chimera, but not of the WT rat GnRH-R and stop codon mutants. The beta-arrestin-promoted increase in the k(e) value was diminished by cotransfecting cells with the dominant negative beta-arrestin-(319-418) mutant, whereas WT GnRH-R and stop codon mutant internalization were unaffected. Additionally, confocal microscopy showed that activated GnRH-Rs failed to induce time-dependent redistribution of either beta-arrestin-1- or beta-arrestin-2-green fluorescent protein conjugate to the plasma membrane. However, the dominant negative dynamin (DynK44A) mutant impaired internalization of all of the receptors regardless of their beta-arrestin dependency, indicating that they internalize via a clathrin-mediated pathway. We conclude that the mammalian GnRH-R uses a beta-arrestin-independent, dynamin-dependent internalization mechanism distinct from that employed by the other receptors studied.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequence of the Erwinia chrysanthemi NCPPB 1066 L-asparaginase gene.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the Erwinia chrysanthemi NCPPB 1066 gene coding for the chemotherapeutic enzyme L-asparaginase has been determined. The structural gene consists of an open reading frame commencing with an ATG start codon of 1044 bp followed by a TGA stop codon. Confirmation of the nucleotide sequence was obtained by comparing the predicted amino acid (aa) sequence with that derived by N-terminal aa sequencing of the purified protein. The gene has been shown to code for a 21-aa signal peptide at its N terminus which closely resembles the signal peptides of other secreted proteins. In common with highly expressed Escherichia coli genes, little use is made of modulator codons. The predicted aa sequence of the enzyme exhibits 46% identity with the determined primary sequence of the E. coli L-asparaginase, although the predicted secondary structure of both proteins indicates more extensive homology. Downstream of the TGA stop codon is a G + C-rich region of dyad symmetry (delta G = -25.4 kcal) characteristic of E. coli Rho-independent transcription terminators. Upstream of the structural gene there are no sequences which bear a strong resemblance to the consensus -35 and -10 regions of E. coli promoters. A sequence is present (CTGGCTCTCCTCTTGAT), however, which exhibits strong homology to the nif promoter consensus sequence (CTGGCACN5TTGCA). Upstream of this region is a sequence which strongly resembles the consensus sequence for promoter regions which are subject to catabolite repression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of B. subtilis TRNA(Trp) on readthrough rate at an opal UGA codon.

Bacillus subtilis has been thought to have a high readthrough rate at the UGA stop codon because no opal suppressor tRNA has been isolated so far [Lovett et al. (1991) J. Bacteriol. 173, 1810-1812]. To examine whether a tRNATrp which we have characterized [Matsugi et al. (1992) Nucleic Acids Res. 20, 3514] has the ability to read the UGA codon, in vitro translation was performed with a synthetic mRNA containing a test codon, UGA, UAG, UAA, or UGG, in a reading frame. Addition of Trp-tRNATrp to the system significantly increased the readthrough rate only in the case of UGA. This suggests that this tRNATrp has a dual recognition pattern in B. subtilis, i.e., for the canonical tryptophan codon and for readthrough at the UGA stop codon.

Anticodon↗

Predicting the efficiency of UAG translational stop signal through studies of physicochemical properties of its composite mono- and dinucleotides.

In this study, we explored the problem of predicting the UAG stop-codon read-through efficiency. The reported nucleotide sequences were first converted into physicochemical property vectors before being presented to a machine learning algorithm. Two sets of physicochemical properties were applied: one for mononucleosides (in terms of steric bulk, hydrophobicity and electronics) and another for dinucleotides. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of how dinucleotides are converted into principle components derived from NMR chemical shift data. A few efficiency prediction models were then derived and a comparison between mononucleoside and dinucleotide-based models was shown. In the derived models, the coefficients of these property based predictors lend themselves to bio-physical interpretations, an advantage which is demonstrated in this study via a prediction model based on the steric bulk factor. Although it is quite simple, the steric bulk factor model explained well the effect of sequence variations surrounding the amber stop codon and the tRNA bearing UCCU anticodon. We further proposed new alternatives at position -1 and +4 of a UAG stop codon sequence to enhance the readthrough efficiency. This research may contribute to a better understanding of the readthrough mechanisms and may also help to study the normal translation termination process.

Codon, Terminator↗

Proline residues at the C terminus of nascent chains induce SsrA tagging during translation termination.

The SsrA or tmRNA quality control system relieves ribosome stalling and directs the addition of a degradation tag to the C terminus of the nascent chain. In some instances, SsrA tagging of otherwise full-length proteins occurs when the ribosome pauses at stop codons during normal translation termination. Here, the identities of the C-terminal residues of the nascent chain are shown to play an important role in full-length protein tagging. Specifically, a subset of C-terminal Xaa-Pro sequences caused SsrA tagging of the full-length YbeL protein from Escherichia coli. This tagging increased when a less efficient stop codon was used, increased in cells lacking protein release factor-3, and decreased when protein release factor-1 was overexpressed. Incorporation of the analog azetidine-2-carboxylic acid in place of proline suppressed tagging, whereas incorporation of 3,4-dehydroproline increased SsrA tagging of full-length YbeL. These results suggest that the detailed chemical or conformational properties of the C-terminal residues of the nascent polypeptide can affect the rate of translation termination, thereby influencing ribosome pausing and SsrA tagging at stop codons.

Codon, Terminator↗

Domains, amino acid residues, and new isoforms of Caenorhabditis elegans diacylglycerol kinase 1 (DGK-1) important for terminating diacylglycerol signaling in vivo.

Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) inhibit diacylglycerol (DAG) signaling by phosphorylating DAG. DGK-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of human neuronal DGK, inhibits neurotransmission to control behavior. DGK-1, like DGK, has three cysteine-rich domains (CRDs), a pleckstrin homology domain, and a kinase domain. To identify DGK domains and amino acid residues critical for terminating DAG signaling in vivo, we analyzed 20 dgk-1 mutants defective in DGK-1-controlled behaviors. We found by sequencing that the mutations included nine amino acid substitutions and seven premature stop codons that impair the physiological functions of DGK-1. All nine amino acid substitutions are in the second CRD, the third CRD, or the kinase domain. Thus, these domains are important for the termination of DAG signaling by DGK-1 in vivo. Seven of the substituted amino acid residues are present in all human DGKs and likely define key residues required for the function of all DGKs. An ATP-binding site mutation expected to inactivate the kinase domain retained very little physiological function, but we found two stop codon mutants predicted to truncate DGK-1 before its kinase domain that retained significantly more function. We detected novel splice forms of dgk-1 that can reconcile this apparent conflict, as they skip exons containing the stop codons to produce DGK-1 isoforms that contain the kinase domain. Two of these isoforms lack an intact pleckstrin homology domain and yet appear to have significant function. Additional novel isoform(s) account for all of the DGK-1 function necessary for one behavior, dopamine response.

Alleles↗