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A T Matheson

Publications and source records attributed to A T Matheson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Structure-function relationships in the ribosomal protein L12 in the archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.

A series of mutant L12 ribosomal proteins was prepared by site-directed mutations in the L12 protein gene of the archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. The mutant protein genes were overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the products purified and incorporated into ribosomal cores which had been ethanol extracted to remove wild-type L12 protein. Measurements were made to determine if the mutation affected the binding of the L12 protein to the ribosome core or affected the translational activity of the resulting ribosome. Changing tyrosine [3] or tyrosine [5], conserved in all archaea and present in all eukarya in positions [3] and [7], to phenylalanine had no effect on binding or translational activity while changes to glycine significantly reduced binding and translational activity. Changing the single arginine [37] residue, conserved in almost all archaeal and eukaryal L12 proteins, to lysine, glutamic acid, glutamine, or glycine had no effect on binding to the core and had little or no significant effect on translational activity. The same was true when lysine [39], conserved in all archaeal L12 proteins, was changed to arginine, glutamic acid, glutamine, or glycine. Changing phenylalanine [104], the penultimate amino acid at the C-terminal end, which is conserved in all archaeal and eukaryal L12 proteins, to tyrosine or glycine had no effect on binding but lowered the translational activity by 60 and 75%, respectively, suggesting that this amino acid plays an important role in translation. Deletion of the highly charged region in the C-terminal domain, which is present in all archaeal and eukaryal L12 proteins, decreased transitional activity by 50%, suggesting this region is also involved in factor interactions.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

The structure and evolution of the ribosomal proteins encoded in the spc operon of the archaeon (Crenarchaeota) Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.

The genes for nine ribosomal proteins, L24, L5, S14, S8, L6, L18, S5, L30, and L15, have been isolated and sequenced from the spc operon in the archaeon (Crenarchaeota) Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, and the putative amino acid sequence of the proteins coded by these genes has been determined. In addition, three other genes in the spc operon, coding for ribosomal proteins S4E, L32E, and L19E (equivalent to rat ribosomal proteins S4, L32, and L19), were sequenced and the structure of the putative proteins was determined. The order of the ribosomal protein genes in the spc operon of the Crenarchaeota kingdom of Archaea is identical to that present in the Euryarchaeota kingdom of Archaea and also identical to that found in bacteria, except for the genes for r-proteins S4E, L32E, and L19E, which are absent in bacteria. Although AUG is the initiation codon in most of the spc genes, GUG (val) and UUG (leu) are also used as initiation codons in S. acidocaldarius. Over 70% of the codons in the Sulfolobus spc operon have A or U in the third position, reflecting the low GC content of Sulfolobus DNA. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the archaeal r-proteins are a sister group of their eucaryotic counterparts but did not resolve the question of whether the Archaea is monophyletic, as suggested by the L6P, L15P, and L18P trees, or the question of whether the Crenarchaeota is separate from the Euryarchaeota and closer to the Eucarya, as suggested by the S8P, S5P, and L24P trees. In the case of the three Sulfolobus r-proteins that do not have a counterpart in the bacterial ribosome (S4E, L32E, and L19E), the archaeal r-proteins showed substantial identity to their eucaryotic equivalents, but in all cases the archaeal proteins formed a separate group from the eucaryotic proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and transcription of the L11-L1-L10-L12 ribosomal protein gene operon from the extreme thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.

We have cloned and sequenced four ribosomal protein genes from the extreme thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius P1. These genes code for proteins equivalent to L11, L1, L10 and L12 from Escherichia coli. The genes for the Sulfolobus L11, L1, L10 and L12 proteins are arranged in the same order as the equivalent genes in E. coli, i.e. L11-L1-L10-L12, and are transcribed as a single unit. Sequences resembling the consensus sequence for archaeal promoters have been detected upstream of the transcription initiation site. Transcription ends at several sites following a pyrimidine-rich region. The genes for proteins L11, L10 and L1 start with unusual initiation codons: GUG in the case of the L1 and L10 genes; and UUG in the case of L11. There are overlapping stop/start codons between the L11 and L1 genes, and between the L1 and L10, suggesting that the translation of the four genes might be coupled as in the bacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure function relationships in the ribosomal stalk proteins of archaebacteria.

The ribosomal L12 protein gene of Sulfolobus solfataricus (SsoL12) has been subcloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Five protein L12 mutants were designed: two NH2-terminal and two COOH-terminal truncated mutants and one mutant lacking the highly charged part of the COOH-terminal region. The mutant protein genes were overexpressed in E. coli and the products purified. The amino acid composition was verified and the NH2 terminally truncated mutants were subjected to Edman degradation. The SsoL12 protein was selectively removed from entire S. solfataricus ribosomes by an ethanol wash. The remaining ribosomal core particles showed a substantial decrease in the in vitro translational activity. S. solfataricus L12 protein overexpressed in E. coli (SsoL12e) was incorporated into these ribosomal cores and restored their translational activity. Mutants lacking any part of the COOH-terminal region could be incorporated into these cores, as proven by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels of the reconstituted particles. Mutant SsoL12 MC2 (residue 1-70) was sufficient for dimerization and incorporation into ribosomes. In contrast to the COOH terminally truncated mutants, L12 proteins lacking the 12 highly conserved NH2-terminal residues or the entire NH2-terminal region (44 amino acids) are unable to bind to ribosomes, suggesting that the SsoL12 protein binds with its NH2-terminal portion to the ribosome. None of the mutants could significantly increase the translational activity of the core particles suggesting that every deleted part of the protein was needed directly or indirectly for translational activity. Our results suggest that the COOH terminally truncated mutants were bound to ribosomes but not functional for translation. Cores preincubated with these COOH terminally truncated mutants regained activity when a second incubation with the entire overexpressed SsoL12e protein followed. This finding suggests that archaebacterial L12 proteins are freely exchanged on the ribosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A small basic ribosomal protein from the extreme thermophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus that has no equivalent in Escherichia coli.

The structure of the gene for a small, very basic ribosomal protein in Sulfolobus solfataricus has been determined and the structure of the protein coded by this gene has been confirmed by partial amino acid sequencing. The protein shows no sequence similarity to any of the ribosomal proteins from eubacteria (Escherichia coli) or to those that have been reported from eukaryotes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The structure of the gene for ribosomal protein L5 in the archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.

The gene for the ribosomal protein L5 from the archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius has been isolated and sequenced. The gene codes for a basic protein of molecular weight 29 165 Da. This protein shows substantial similarity to the equivalent protein from other archaebacteria as well as from yeast, and considerably less similarity to the equivalent eubacterial protein. These results support the concept of the archaebacteria as a monophyletic kingdom more closely related to eukaryotes than to eubacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A gene in the archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus that codes for a protein equivalent to the alpha subunits of the signal recognition particle receptor in eukaryotes.

We have sequenced a gene in the archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus that codes for a protein that shows sequence similarity to the alpha subunit of the signal recognition particle receptor or docking protein in eukaryotes and the product of the ftsY gene in Escherichia coli. Comparison of the Sulfolobus 'docking protein' with its eukaryotic and eubacterial counterparts showed that the region of highest sequence similarity corresponds to a GTP-binding site. The presence of this gene in archaebacteria suggests that some of the components involved in protein transport have been conserved in the three kingdoms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparison of the structure of archaebacterial ribosomal proteins equivalent to proteins L11 and L1 from Escherichia coli ribosomes.

The sequences of two ribosomal proteins from two widely divergent species of archaebacteria, Halobacterium cutirubrum and Sulfolobus solfataricus, have been deduced from the structure of their respective genes. These two proteins were found to be equivalent to the L11 and L1 ribosomal proteins of the eubacterium Escherichia coli. Sequence comparison revealed that the archaebacterial L11e (equivalent to E. coli L11) proteins are longer than the eubacterial protein due to a C-terminal extension of about 30 residues. The archaebacterial L11e proteins, like the E. coli L11, are rich in proline residues; most of these are conserved. L11 is the most highly methylated protein in the E. coli ribosome. However, sites of methylation are generally not conserved in the archaebacterial L11e proteins. The region of highest sequence similarity between L11 and the archaebacterial L11e proteins is the N-terminal domain. This domain is believed to interact with release factor 1 during termination of translation. The amino acid sequences of the archaebacterial L1e proteins were compared to the eubacterial E. coli L1 and Bacillus stearothermophilus L1e sequences. The archaebacterial L1e proteins are slightly shorter at both their N- and C-termini. A region of high sequence similarity (7 of 14 residues) occurs near the center of the proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Occurrence in the archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus of a ribosomal protein complex corresponding to Escherichia coli (L7/L12)4.L10 and eukaryotic (P1)2/(P2)2.P0.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis of total protein from 50 S ribosomal subunits of the archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus demonstrated a complex between two proteins that was stable in 6 M urea, but dissociable in detergent or below pH 5.5. The proteins, numbered L1 and L10 according to their electrophoretic mobilities, corresponded to Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins L10 and L7/L12, respectively. The members of the complex were therefore designated Sso L10e and Sso L12e. Sso L12e had other properties in common with E. coli L7/L12: low molecular weight, relative acidity, selective release from the ribosome by high salt/ethanol, and dimeric structure. The Sso L12e.Sso L10e complex was isolated by gel filtration of total 50 S proteins in 4 M urea. The stoichiometry of the components was approximately four copies of Sso L12e to one copy of Sso L10e. The occurrence in an archaebacterium of a complex of acidic ribosomal proteins similar to E. coli (L7/L12)4.L10 and eukaryotic (P1)2/(P2)/.P0 strongly supports the concept that this element of quaternary structure is a major conserved feature of the ribosome and reaffirms its importance in the translocation step of protein synthesis.

Archaea↗

A small basic ribosomal protein in Sulfolobus solfataricus equivalent to L46 in yeast: structure of the protein and its gene.

The structure of the gene for a small, very basic ribosomal protein in Sulfolobus solfataricus has been determined and the structure of the protein coded by this gene (L46e) has been confirmed by partial amino acid sequencing. The protein shows substantial sequence homology to the eukaryotic ribosomal proteins L39 in rat and L46 in yeast. There is no sequence homology to any of the eubacterial ribosomal proteins suggesting that this protein is absent in the eubacterial ribosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence alignment and evolutionary comparison of the L10 equivalent and L12 equivalent ribosomal proteins from archaebacteria, eubacteria, and eucaryotes.

The genes corresponding to the L10 and L12 equivalent ribosomal proteins (L10e and L12e) of Escherichia coli have been cloned and sequenced from two widely divergent species of archaebacteria, Halobacterium cutirubrum and Sulfolobus solfataricus. The deduced amino acid sequences of the L10e and L12e proteins have been compared to each other and to available eubacterial and eucaryotic sequences. We have identified the human P0 protein as the eucaryotic L10e. The L10e proteins from the three kingdoms were found to be colinear. The eubacterial L10e protein is much shorter than the archaebacterial-eucaryotic proteins because of two large deletions, one internal and one at the carboxy terminus. The archaebacterial and eucaryotic L12e proteins were also colinear; the eubacterial protein is homologous to the archaebacterial and eucaryotic L12e proteins, but has suffered rearrangement through what appear to be gene fusion events. Intraspecies comparisons between L10e and L12e sequences indicate the archaebacterial and eucaryotic L10e proteins contain a partial copy of the L12e protein fused to their carboxy terminus. In the eubacteria most of this fusion has been removed by the carboxy terminal deletion. Within the L12e-derived region, a 26-amino acid-long internal modular sequence reiterated thrice in the archaebacterial L10e, twice in the eucaryotic L10e, and once in the eubacterial L10e was discovered. This modular sequence also appears to be present as a single copy in all L12e proteins and may play a role in L12e dimerization, L10e-L12e complex formation, and the function of L10e-L12e complex in translation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Organization of genes encoding the L11, L1, L10, and L12 equivalent ribosomal proteins in eubacteria, archaebacteria, and eucaryotes.

Archaebacterial and eucaryotic cytoplasmic ribosomes contain proteins equivalent to the L11, L1, L10, and L12 proteins of the eubacterium Escherichia coli. In E. coli the genes encoding these ribosomal proteins are clustered, cotranscribed, and autogenously regulated at the level of mRNA translation. Genomic restriction fragments encoding the L11e, L1e, L10e, and L12e (equivalent) proteins from two divergent archaebacteria. Halobacterium cutirubrum and Sulfolobus solfataricus, and the L10e and L12e proteins from the eucaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been cloned, sequenced, and analyzed. In the archaebacteria, as in eubacteria, the four genes are clustered and the L11e, L1e, L10e, and L12e order is maintained. The transcription pattern of the H. cutirubrum cluster is different from the E. coli pattern and the flanking genes on either side of the tetragenic clusters in E. coli, H. cutirubrum, and Sulfolobus solfataricus are all unrelated to each other. In the eucaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae there is a single L10e gene and four separate L12e genes that are designated L12eIA, L12eIB, L12eIIA, and L12eIIB. These five genes are not closely linked and each is transcribed as a monocistronic mRNA; the L10e, L12eIA, L12eIB, and the L12eIIA genes are contiguous and uninterrupted, whereas the L12eIIB gene is interrupted by a 301 nucleotide long intron located between codons 38 and 39.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and evolution of the L11, L1, L10, and L12 equivalent ribosomal proteins in eubacteria, archaebacteria, and eucaryotes.

The genes corresponding to the L11, L1, L10, and L12 equivalent ribosomal proteins (L11e, L1e, L10e, and L12e) of Escherichia coli have been cloned and sequenced from two widely divergent species of archaebacteria, Halobacterium cutirubrum and Sulfolobus solfataricus, and the L10 and four different L12 genes have been cloned and sequenced from the eucaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Alignments between the deduced amino acid sequences of these proteins and to other available homologous proteins of eubacteria and eucaryotes have been made. The data suggest that the archaebacteria are a distinct coherent phylogenetic group. Alignment of the proline-rich L11e proteins reveals that the N-terminal region, believed to be responsible for interaction with release factor 1, is the most highly conserved region and that there is specific conservation of most of the proline residues, which may be important in maintaining the highly elongated structure of the molecule. Although L11 is the most highly methylated protein in the E. coli ribosome, the sites of methylation are not conserved in the archaebacterial L11e proteins. The L1e proteins of eubacteria and archaebacteria show two regions of very high similarity near the center and the carboxy termini of the proteins. The L10e proteins of all kingdoms are colinear and contain approximately three fourths of an L12e protein fused to their carboxy terminus, although much of this fusion has been lost in the truncated eubacterial protein. The archaebacterial and eucaryotic L12e proteins are colinear, whereas the eubacterial protein has suffered a rearrangement through what appear to be gene fusion events. Within the L12e derived region of the L10e proteins there exists a repeated module of 26 amino acids, present in two copies in eucaryotes, three in archaebacteria, and one in eubacteria. This modular sequence is apparently also present in the L12e proteins of all kingdoms and may play a role in L12e dimerization, L10e-L12e complex formation, and the function of the L10e-L12e complex in translation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The primary structure of the ribosomal A-protein (L12) from the halophilic eubacterium Haloanaerobium praevalens.

The ribosomal A-protein, equivalent to the ribosomal protein L12 from Escherichia coli, has been sequenced from the anaerobic halophilic eubacterium Haloanaerobium praevalens (DSM 2228). The protein contains 122 amino acids, has a composition of Asp6, Asn2, Thr2, Ser6, Glu22, Pro2, Gly13, Ala19, Val12, Met4, Ile5, Leu11, Phe3, Lys14, Arg1 and has a molecular weight of 12,691. The hydrophilicity profile was determined for this protein. A phylogenetic or cluster tree was calculated from computer analysis of the sequence data on eubacterial ribosomal A-proteins. H. praevalens clusters with a group that includes Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus lysodeikticus, Bacillus stearothermophilus and Clostridium pasteurianum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The primary structure of the ribosomal A-protein (L12) from the moderate halophile NRCC 41227.

The complete amino acid sequence of the ribosomal A-protein (equivalent to L7/L12 in Escherichia coli) from a moderate halophile, NRCC 41227, has been determined using an automatic Beckman sequencer and by the manual Edman cleavage of peptides obtained from selective proteolytic cleavage of the ribosomal A-protein. The protein contains 122 amino acids and has a composition of Asp5, Asn2, Thr6, Ser6, Glu21, Gln2, Pro2, Gly12, Ala21, Val14, Met4, Ile4, Leu9, Phe2, Lys11, and Arg1, and a molecular weight of 12 537. It has a net negative charge of -14 and is, therefore, slightly more acidic than other eubacterial ribosomal A-proteins. The phylogenetic tree, obtained by computer analysis of the amino acid sequence of this and other eubacterial A-proteins, indicate these proteins form five subgroups within the eubacterial kingdom. The moderate halophile NRCC 41227 is part of a group of Gram-negative bacteria that include E. coli and another moderate halophile Vibrio costicola. The sequence data provides further evidence that the moderate and extreme halophiles have evolved by separate pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A new ribosome structure.

Ribosomes derived from the sulfur-dependent archaebacteria are structurally distinct from those types found in ribosomes from eubacteria, eukaryotes, and other archaebacteria. All four ribosome types share a common structural core, but each type also has additional independent structural features. In the smaller subunit derived from sulfur-dependent archaebacteria ("eocytes"), lobes, similar to those found at the base of the eukaryotic small subunits, and an archaebacterial bill, similar to those found on the smaller subunit of archaebacteria and eukaryotes, are present. On the larger subunit from sulfur-dependent archaebacteria, an eocytic lobe, eocytic gap, and eocytic bulge are present. These features, with the exception of the eocytic gap, are found in a slightly modified form on eukaryotic large subunits. These novel ribosomal properties are in general consistent with other molecular biological properties peculiar to these organisms.

Archaea↗