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PubMed1999

Genetic interactions between a null allele of the RIT1 gene encoding an initiator tRNA-specific modification enzyme and genes encoding translation factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene RIT1 encodes a phospho-ribosyl transferase that exclusively modifies the initiator tRNA (tRNAMet(i)) by the addition of a 2'-O-ribosyl phosphate group to Adenosine 64. As a result, tRNAMet(i) is prevented from participating in the elongation steps of protein synthesis. We previously showed that the modification is not essential for the function of tRNAMet(i) in the initiation of translation, since rit1 null strains are viable and show no obvious growth defects. Here, we demonstrate that yeast strains in which a rit1 null allele is combined with mutations in any of the genes for the three subunits of eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2), or with disruption alleles of two of the four initiator methionine tRNA (IMT) genes, show synergistic growth defects. A multicopy plasmid carrying an IMT gene can alleviate these defects. On the other hand, introduction of a high-copy-number plasmid carrying the TEF2 gene, which encodes the eukaryotic elongation factor 1alpha (eEF-1alpha), into rit1 null strains with two intact IMT genes had the opposite effect, indicating that increased levels of eEF-1alpha are deleterious to these strains, presumably due to sequestration of the unmodified met-tRNAMet(i) for elongation. Thus, under conditions in which the components of the ternary met-tRNAMet(i):GTP:eIF-2 complex become limiting or are functionally impaired, the presence of the 2'-O-ribosyl phosphate modification in tRNAMet(i) is important for the provision of adequate amounts of tRNAMet(i) for formation of this ternary complex.

Alleles↗
PubMed1997

Expression of a coronavirus ribosomal frameshift signal in Escherichia coli: influence of tRNA anticodon modification on frameshifting.

Eukaryotic ribosomal frameshift signals generally contain two elements, a heptanucleotide slippery sequence (XXXYYYN) and an RNA secondary structure, often an RNA pseudoknot, located downstream. Frameshifting takes place at the slippery sequence by simultaneous slippage of two ribosome-bound tRNAs. All of the tRNAs that are predicted to decode frameshift sites in the ribosomal A-site (XXXYYYN) possess a hypermodified base in the anticodon-loop and it is conceivable that these modifications play a role in the frameshift process. To test this, we expressed slippery sequence variants of the coronavirus IBV frameshift signal in strains of Escherichia coli unable to modify fully either tRNA(Lys) or tRNA(Asn). At the slippery sequences UUUAAAC and UUUAAAU (underlined codon decoded by tRNA(Asn), anticodon 5' QUU 3'), frameshifting was very inefficient (2 to 3%) and in strains deficient in the biosynthesis of Q base, was increased (AAU) or decreased (AAC) only two-fold. In E. coli, therefore, hypomodification of tRNA(Asn) had little effect on frameshifting. The situation with the efficient slippery sequences UUUAAAA (15%) and UUUAAAG (40%) (underlined codon decoded by tRNA(Lys), anticodon 5' mnm5s2UUU 3') was more complex, since the wobble base of tRNA(Lys) is modified at two positions. Of four available mutants, only trmE (s2UUU) had a marked influence on frameshifting, increasing the efficiency of the process at the slippery sequence UUUAAAA. No effect on frameshifting was seen in trmC1 (cmnm5s2UUU) or trmC2 (nm5s2UUU) strains and only a very small reduction (at UUUAAAG) was observed in an asuE (mnm5UUU) strain. The slipperiness of tRNA(Lys), therefore, cannot be ascribed to a single modification site on the base. However, the data support a role for the amino group of the mnm5 substitution in shaping the anticodon structure. Whether these conclusions can be extended to eukaryotic translation systems is uncertain. Although E. coli ribosomes changed frame at the IBV signal (UUUAAAG) with an efficiency similar to that measured in reticulocyte lysates (40%), there were important qualitative differences. Frameshifting of prokaryotic ribosomes was pseudoknot-independent (although secondary structure dependent) and appeared to require slippage of only a single tRNA.

Anticodon↗
PubMed2000

Transfer RNA modification, temperature and DNA superhelicity have a common target in the regulatory network of the virulence of Shigella flexneri: the expression of the virF gene.

Full expression of the virulence genes of Shigella flexneri requires the presence of two modified nucleosides in the tRNA [queuosine, Q34, present in the wobble position (position 34) and 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenosine (ms2i6A37, adjacent to and 3' of the anticodon)]. The synthesis of these two nucleosides depends on the products of the tgt and miaA genes respectively. We have shown that the intracellular concentration of the virulence-related transcriptional regulator VirF is reduced in the absence of either of these modified nucleosides. The intracellular concentration of VirF is correlated with the expression of the virulence genes. Overproduction of VirF in the tgt and the miaA mutants suppressed the less virulent (tgt) or the avirulent (miaA) phenotypes respectively, caused by the tRNA modification deficiency. This suggests that the primary result of undermodification of the tRNA is a poor translation of virF mRNA and not of any other mRNA whose product acts downstream of the action of VirF. Shigella showed no virulence phenotypes at 30 degrees C, but forced synthesis of VirF at 30 degrees C induced the virulence phenotype at this low temperature. In addition, removal of the known gene silencer H-NS by a mutation in its structural gene hns increased the synthesis of VirF at low temperature and thus induced a virulent phenotype at 30 degrees C. Conversely, decreased expression of VirF at 37 degrees C induced by the addition of novobiocin, a known inhibitor of gyrase, led to an avirulent phenotype. We conclude that tRNA modification, temperature and superhelicity have the same target - the expression of VirF - to influence the expression of the central regulatory gene virB and thereby the virulence of Shigella. These results further strengthen the suggestion that the concentration of VirF is the critical factor in the regulation of virulence in Shigella. In addition, they emphasize the role of the bacterial translational machinery in the regulation of the expression of virulence genes which appears here quantitatively as important as the well-established regulation on the transcriptional level.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1986

[Adaptation of cell metabolism to environmental changes: regulation of gene expression of transfer RNA and unusual nucleic acid building-blocks].

In the living cell transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNAs) serve for the transfer of information from genes to proteins. In this article evidence will be presented showing that changes of particular tRNA modifications cause alterations in gene expression, when an organism is exposed to a metabolic stress, e.g. limitation of oxygen or nutrients. tRNA modifications seem to be important to adapt cells to environmental changes. These mechanisms of adaptation are considered to have developed as survival strategies in microorganisms especially when oxygen accumulated in the atmosphere.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1983

Specific effects of 5-fluoropyrimidines and 5-azapyrimidines on modification of the 5 position of pyrimidines, in particular the synthesis of 5-methyluracil and 5-methylcytosine in nucleic acids.

5-Fluoropyrimidines and 5-azapyrimidines were found in our laboratory to be specific inhibitors of modification reactions taking place at the 5 position of pyrimidines in nucleic acids. Thus, 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluorouridine specifically inhibit the formation of 5-methyluracil, pseudouridine, and 5,6-dihydrouracil in tRNA. 5-Fluorocytidine, which is partially biotransformed to 5-fluorouracil derivatives in mammalian cells, inhibits the formation of 5-methyluracil, pseudouridine, 5,6-dihydrouracil, and 5-methylcytosine, and 5-azacytidine is a specific inhibitor of the formation of 5-methylcytosine in tRNA and DNA. Inhibitory effects on tRNA modifications require RNA synthesis, as shown by the observation that various inhibitors of RNA synthesis block the drug effects. An inhibitory low-molecular-weight (4-7S) RNA, consisting mainly of tRNA and pre-tRNA, was isolated from livers of mice after treatment with 5-azacytidine. This RNA, when added to an in vitro tRNA methyltransferase assay, specifically interfered with the formation of 5-methylcytosine in substrate tRNA. Similarly, a DNA inhibiting the synthesis of 5-methylcytosine in an in vitro DNA methylation assay was isolated from L1210 leukemic cells treated with a high dose of 5-azacytidine for a short time. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that incorporation of 5-azacytosine into positions that are normally occupied by C residues destined to become methylated is required for the inhibition to occur, and a similar situation probably applies to the 5-fluoropyrimidine analogs. Analog base moieties occupying such sites are likely to bind strongly, perhaps irreversibly, to the active sites of the particular modifying enzymes. All our observations with the 5-fluoro- and 5-azapyrimidines are in accord with this hypothesis. It was also observed that administration of 5-azacytidine to mice led to strong inhibition of tRNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase, while at the same time the activities and capacities of purine-specific tRNA methyltransferases became strongly elevated after an initial lag period. We speculate that such increases may represent a response of the cell to the methylation defect induced by the drug. Undermodified tRNAs present in neoplastic cells may also trigger an increased synthesis of modifying enzymes. A scheme has been presented which explains increased tRNA turnover and increased activities of modifying enzymes in neoplastic cells as a consequence of a primary defect in tRNA modification.

5-Methylcytosine↗
PubMed1999

Transfer RNA modification status influences retroviral ribosomal frameshifting.

The possibility of whether tRNAs with and without a highly modified base in their anticodon loop may influence the level of retroviral ribosomal frameshifting was examined. Rabbit reticulocyte lysates were programmed with mRNA encoding UUU or AAC at the frameshift site and the corresponding Phe tRNA with or without the highly modified wyebutoxine (Y) base on the 3' side of its anticodon or Asn tRNA with or without the highly modified queuine (Q) base in the wobble position of its anticodon added. Phe and Asn tRNAs without the Y or Q base, respectively, stimulated the level of frameshifting, suggesting that the frameshift event is influenced by tRNA modification status. In addition, when AAU occurred immediately upstream of UUU as the penultimate frameshift site codon, addition of tRNAAsn without the Q base reduced the stimulatory effect of tRNAPhe without the Y base, whereas addition of tRNAAsn with the Q base did not alter the stimulatory effect. The addition of tRNAAsn without the Q base and tRNAPhe with the Y base inhibited frameshifting. The latter studies suggest an interplay between the tRNAs decoded at the penulimate frameshift and frameshift site codons that is also influenced by tRNA modification status. These data may be intrepreted as indicating that a hypomodified isoacceptor modulates frameshifting in an upward manner when utilized at the frameshift site codon, but modulates frameshifting in a downward manner when utilized at the penultimate frameshift site codon.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Construction of a UGA suppressor tRNA by modification in vitro of yeast tRNACys.

In this paper we describe the construction of a yeast tRNACys UGA suppressor. After specific hydrolysis of the parent molecule, the first base of the anticodon GCA was replaced by a uracil. The resulting molecule, harboring a UCA anticodon, was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes in order to test its biological activities. The level of aminoacylation was similar to that of the parent molecule. Readthrough of the UGA termination codon in beta-globin mRNA, coinjected with the tRNA, indicated suppressor activity; however, tRNACys (anticodon UCA) was a much less efficient suppressor than others tested under the same conditions. We see no post-transcriptional modification of the uracil in the anticodon wobble position after injection into oocytes. This may be related to the low suppressor activity; however, it is also possible that other features of tRNACys structure may be unadapted to efficient UCA anticodon function.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The ms2io6A37 modification of tRNA in Salmonella typhimurium regulates growth on citric acid cycle intermediates.

The modified nucleoside 2-methylthio-N-6-isopentenyl adenosine (ms2i6A) is present in position 37 (adjacent to and 3' of the anticodon) of tRNAs that read codons beginning with U except tRNA(i.v. Ser) in Escherichia coli. In Salmonella typhimurium, 2-methylthio-N-6-(cis-hydroxy)isopentenyl adenosine (ms2io6A; also referred to as 2-methylthio cis-ribozeatin) is found in tRNA, most likely in the species that have ms2i6A in E. coli. Mutants (miaE) of S. typhimurium in which ms2i6A hydroxylation is blocked are unable to grow aerobically on the dicarboxylic acids of the citric acid cycle. Such mutants have normal uptake of dicarboxylic acids and functional enzymes of the citric acid cycle and the aerobic respiratory chain. The ability of S. typhimurium to grow on succinate, fumarate, and malate is dependent on the state of modification in position 37 of those tRNAs normally having ms2io6A37 and is not due to a second cellular function of tRNA (ms2io6A37)hydroxylase, the miaE gene product. We suggest that S. typhimurium senses the hydroxylation status of the isopentenyl group of the tRNA and will grow on succinate, fumarate, or malate only if the isopentenyl group is hydroxylated.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1982

Isolation of single-site Escherichia coli mutants deficient in thiamine and 4-thiouridine syntheses: identification of a nuvC mutant.

A method is described to rapidly select and classify many independent near-UV irradiation-resistant Escherichia coli mutants, which include tRNA modification and RNA synthesis control mutants. One class of these mutants was found to be simultaneously deficient in thiamine biosynthesis and in the ability to modify uridine in tRNA to 4-thiouridine, known to be the target for near-UV irradiation. These mutants were found to be unable to make thiazole, a thiamine precursor. The addition of thiazole restores the thiamine deficiency but does not render the cells near-UV irradiation sensitive. In vitro studies on one of these mutants indicated a deficiency in protein factor C (nuvC), required for the 4-thiouridine modification of tRNA. In P1 transduction, the thiazole marker cotransduced with the histidine marker, which places the thiazole marker between 42 and 46 min on the E. coli chromosome map. Both thiamine production and 4-thiouridine production were resumed by 87% of the spontaneous reversions, suggesting a single-point mutation. Our results indicate that we have isolated nuvC mutants and that the nuvC polypeptide is involved in two functions, tRNA modification and thiazole biosynthesis.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed2003

Transfer RNA modifications that alter +1 frameshifting in general fail to affect -1 frameshifting.

Using mutants (tgt, mnmA(asuE, trmU), mnmE(trmE), miaA, miaB, miaE, truA(hisT), truB) of either Escherichia coli or Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and the trm5 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have analyzed the influence by the modified nucleosides Q34, mnm(5)s(2)U34, ms(2)io(6)A37, Psi39, Psi55, m(1)G37, and yW37 on -1 frameshifts errors at various heptameric sequences, at which at least one codon is decoded by tRNAs having these modified nucleosides. The frequency of -1 frameshifting was the same in congenic strains only differing in the allelic state of the various tRNA modification genes. In fact, in one case (deficiency of mnm(5)s(2)U34), we observed a reduced ability of the undermodified tRNA to make a -1 frameshift error. These results are in sharp contrast to earlier observations that tRNA modification prevents +1 frameshifting suggesting that the mechanisms by which -1 and +1 frameshift errors occur are different. Possible mechanisms explaining these results are discussed.

Anticodon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of modification of tRNA nucleotide-37 on the tRNA interaction with the P- and A-site of the 70S ribosome Escherichia coli].

A modified nucleotide on the 3'-side of the anticodon loop of tRNA is one of the most important structure element regulating codon-anticodone interaction on the ribosome owing to the stacking interaction with the stack of codon-anticodon bases. The presence and identity (pyrimidine, purine or modified purine) of this nucleotide has an essential influence on the energy of the stacking interaction on A- and P-sites of the ribosome. There is a significant influence of the 37-modification by itself on the P-site, whereas there is no such one on the A-site of the ribosome. Comparison of binding enthalpies of tRNA interactions on the P- or A-site of the ribosome with the binding enthalpies of the complex of two tRNAs with the complementary anticodones suggests that the ribosome by itself significantly endows in the thermodynamics of codon-anticodon complex formation. It happens by additional ribosomal interactions with the molecule of tRNA or indirectly by the stabilization of codon-anticodon conformation. In addition to the stacking, tRNA binding in the A and P sites is futher stabilized by the interactions involving some magnesium ions. The number of them involved in those interactions strongly depends on the nucleotide identity in the 37-position of tRNA anticodon loop.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1979

Novel mechanism of post-transcriptional modification of tRNA. Insertion of bases of Q precursors into tRNA by a specific tRNA transglycosylase reaction.

The guanine insertion enzyme isolated from Escherichia coli (tRNA transglycosylase) catalyzed the incorporation of bases of Q (queuosine) precursors into E. coli undermodified tRNAAsn and tRNATyr. These bases of Q precursors were inserted in the first position of the anticodon of tRNASn and tRNATyr, replacing guanine originally located in that position. This is a novel type of post-transcriptional modification, inserting a modified base into the polynucleotide chain by cleavage of the N--C glycoside bond without breakage of the phosphodiester bond. One of the bases of Q precursors, 7-(aminomethyl)-7-deazaguanine, was found in the acid-soluble fraction of E. coli cells, supporting the conclusion that formation of Q, 7-(3,4-trans-4,5-cis-dihydroxy-1-cyclopenten-3-ylaminomethyl)-7-deazaguanosine, in tRNA in vivo actually proceeds by the tRNA transglycosylase reaction.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1979

Function of modified nucleosides 7-methylguanosine, ribothymidine, and 2-thiomethyl-N6-(isopentenyl)adenosine in procaryotic transfer ribonucleic acid.

To elucidate subtle functions of transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) modifications in protein synthesis, pairs of tRNA's that differ in modifications at specific positions were prepared from Bacillus subtilis. The tRNA's differ in modifications in the anticodon loop, the extra arm, and the TUC loop. The functional properties of these species were compared in aminoacylation, as well as in initiation and peptide bond formation, at programmed ribosomes. These experiments demonstrated the following. (i) In tRNA(f) (Met) the methylation of guanosine 46 in the extra arm to 7-methylguanosine by the 7-methylguanosine-forming enzyme from Escherichia coli changes the aminoacylation kinetics for the B. subtilis methionyl-tRNA synthetase. In repeated experiments the V(max) value is decreased by one-half. (ii) tRNA(f) (Met) species with ribothymidine at position 54 (rT54) or uridine at position 54 (U54) were obtained from untreated or trimethoprim-treated B. subtilis. The formylated fMet-tRNA(f) (Met) species with U54 and rT54, respectively, function equally well in an in vitro initiation system containing AUG, initiation factors, and 70s ribosomes. The unformylated Met-tRNA(t) (Met) species, however, differ from each other: "Met-tRNA(f) (Met) rT" is inactive, whereas the U54 counter-upart effectively forms the initiation complex. (iii) Two isoacceptors, tRNA(1) (Phe) and tRNA(2) (Phe), were obtained from B. subtilis. tRNA(1) (Phe) accumulates only under special growth conditions and is an incompletely modified precursor oftRNA(2) (Phe): in the first position of the anticodon, guanosine replaces Gm, and next to the 3' end of the anticodon (isopentenyl)adenosine replaces 2-thiomethyl-N(6)-(isopentenyl)adenosine. Both tRNA's behave identically in aminoacylation kinetics. In the factor-dependent AUGU(3)-directed formation of fMet-Phe, the undermodified tRNA(1) (Phe) is always less efficient at Mg(2+) concentrations between 5 and 15 mM than its mature counterpart.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed1990

Altered growth-rate-dependent regulation of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase level in hisT mutants of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli.

In Escherichia coli, the level of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase is directly proportional to the cellular growth rate during growth in minimal media. This contrasts with the report by Winkler et al. (M. E. Winkler, J. R. Roth, and P. E. Hartman, J. Bacteriol. 133:830-843, 1978) that the level of the enzyme in Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 strain SB3436 is invariant. The basis for the difference in the growth-rate-dependent regulation between the two genera was investigated. Expression of gnd, which encodes 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, was growth rate uninducible in strain SB3436, as reported previously, but it was 1.4-fold growth rate inducible in other S. typhimurium LT-2 strains, e.g., SA535. Both the SB3436 and SA535 gnd genes were growth rate inducible in E. coli K-12. Moreover, the nucleotide sequences of the regulatory regions of the two S. typhimurium genes were identical. We concluded that a mutation unlinked to gnd is responsible for the altered growth rate inducibility of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in strain SB3436. Transductional analysis showed that the altered regulation is due to the presence of a mutation in hisT, the gene for the tRNA modification enzyme pseudouridine synthetase I. A complementation test showed that the regulatory defect conferred by the hisT mutation was recessive. In E. coli, hisT mutations reduced the extent of growth rate induction by the same factor as in S. typhimurium. The altered regulation conferred by hisT mutations was not simply due to their general effect of reducing the polypeptide chain elongation rate, because miaA mutants, which lack another tRNA modification and have a similarity reduced chain growth rate, had higher rather than lower 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase levels. Studies with genetic fusions suggested that hisT mutations lower the gnd mRNA level. The data also indicated that hisT is involved in translational control of gnd expression, but not the aspect mediated by the internal complementary sequence.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed2006

Involvement of the Escherichia coli folate-binding protein YgfZ in RNA modification and regulation of chromosomal replication initiation.

The Escherichia coli hda gene codes for a DnaA-related protein that is essential for the regulatory inactivation of DnaA (RIDA), a system that controls the initiation of chromosomal replication. We have identified the ygfZ gene, which encodes a folate-binding protein, as a suppressor of hda mutations. The ygfZ null mutation suppresses an hda null mutation. The over-initiation and abortive elongation phenotypes conferred by the hda mutations are partially suppressed in an hda ygfZ background. The accumulation of the active form of DnaA, ATP-DnaA, in the hda mutant is suppressed by the disruption of the ygfZ gene, indicating that YgfZ is involved in regulating the level of ATP-DnaA. Although ygfZ is not an essential gene, the ygfZ disruptant grows slowly, especially at low temperature, demonstrating that this gene is important for cellular proliferation. We have identified mnmE (trmE) as a suppressor of the ygfZ disruption. This gene encodes a GTPase involved in tRNA modification. Examination of RNA modification in the ygfZ mutant reveals reduced levels of 2-methylthio N(6)-isopentenyladenosine [corrected] indicating that YgfZ participates in the methylthio-group formation of this modified nucleoside in some tRNAs. These results suggest that YgfZ is a key factor in regulatory networks that act via tRNA modification.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1994

Transcriptional patterns of the mutL-miaA superoperon of Escherichia coli K-12 suggest a model for posttranscriptional regulation.

The complex amiB-mutL-miaA-hfq-hflX-hflK-hflC superoperon of E coli contains important genes for several fundamental cellular processes, including cell-wall hydrolysis (amiB), DNA repair (mutL), tRNA modification (miaA) and proteolysis (hflX-hflK-hflC). We report here the transcriptional pattern and possible posttranscriptional regulation of mutL, miaA and hfq genes of this superoperon. RNase protection analysis of mRNA transcribed from the bacterial chromosome demonstrated that there is co-transcription of mutL and miaA. In addition, two internal promoters, PmiaA and P1hfq were identified and mapped to 201 and 837 nucleotides upstream from the respective translation start sites. PmiaA contains poor matches to the -10 and -35 regions of the sigma-70 RNA polymerase consensus sequences, but it contains multiple potential Fis-binding sites and an upstream AT-rich region with poly(A) sequences. The basic arrangement of Fis-binding sites followed by an AT rich region is shared with promoters for rRNA operons and some of the tRNA and tRNA modification genes. As part of an initial study of mutL and miaA regulation, we measured transcript amounts in isogenic rne, rnc and rne rnc double mutants which are deficient in RNase E, RNase III or both. The amounts of steady state level mutL-miaA cotranscript, PmiaA transcript and P1hfq transcript increased eight-, nine- and three-fold respectively in an rne3071 mutant when compared to the rne+ parent. In contrast, amounts of the three transcripts were the same in an rnc105 mutant and its rnc+ parent. These results indicate that mutL, miaA, and hfq expression could be regulated by multiple mechanisms, including degree of cotranscription from upstream genes, modulation of internal promoter strength, and by RNase E activity. A model is presented for RNase E-mediated posttranscriptional regulation that may coordinate mutL expression with replication and miaA with tRNA amounts under different growth conditions, especially during nutrient upshifts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Queuosine modification in tRNA and expression of the nitrate reductase in Escherichia coli.

In eubacteria the modified nucleoside queuosine is present in tRNAAsn, tRNAAsp, tRNAHis and tRNATyr. A precursor of queuine, pre-queuine, is synthesized from GTP, inserted into the first position of the anticodon of the corresponding tRNAs by a specific tRNA-guanine transglycosylase and further modified to queuosine. Isogenic pairs of Escherichia coli, containing or lacking the tRNA-transglycosylase (JE 7335, tgt+ lacZ+ and JE 7337, tgt- lacZ+; JE 7334, tgt+ lacZ- and JE 7336, tgt- lacZ-), have been employed to study the function of queuosine in tRNA. Compared with the tgt+ strain (JE 7335), the tgt- mutant (JE 7337) grown under anaerobic conditions, is defective with respect to the nitrate respiration system, in which electrons are transported from D(-)-lactate via quinone and cytochrome bNO3-(556) to nitrate. Low temperature cytochrome spectra of the anaerobically grown tgt- mutant show a lowered amount of type b cytochromes involving the spectrum of cytochrome bNO3-(556). In the case of the anaerobically grown tgt- mutant three proteins are missing in the protein pattern of cytoplasmic membranes. Their mol. wts. correspond to those of the subunits of the nitrate reductase complex. In contrast to the tgt+ strains (JE 7334, JE 7335) both tgt- mutants (JE 7336, JE 7337) cannot grow on lactate under anaerobic conditions with nitrate offered as electron acceptor and NO3- is not reduced to NO2-. A possible link between Q-modification of tRNAs, the synthesis of proteins of the nitrate reductase complex and the synthesis of menaquinone or ubiquinone is discussed.

Aerobiosis↗