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Computational identification and sequence analysis of stop codon readthrough genes in Oryza sativa.

Using an approach based on the Readthrough Candidate Extraction System (RCES), we extracted 111 candidates from 9620 gene sequences of rice. The results of homology search and sequence analysis demonstrated that these candidates included actual readthrough genes that would be important for further investigating the mechanism of translation termination regulated by readthrough event, and could also give some useful clues for functional genome annotation. Between the candidates and non-candidates of gene sequences in rice, there exist significant base biases at the positions surrounding the stop codons. These positions, especially both -1 and +4, are referred to as part of an extended stop signal. In candidates, G at position -1, and G or C at position +4 are much more favored than that in non-candidates. Both stop sequence patterns, GUAGC and GUGAG, might drive high readthrough efficiency in rice. Secondary structure analysis revealed that the -1 and +1 amino acids around the first stop codon of candidates have a strong bias toward arginine, particularly the +1 position (20.7%), which indicated that the amino acids at the readthrough region being frequently located in the hydrophilic region of beta-turn might be a determinant for efficient translation termination or not.

Base Sequence↗

In vivo expression and mutational analysis of the barley yellow dwarf virus readthrough gene.

The barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) coat protein gene is separated from an adjacent downstream open reading frame (ORF) by a single termination codon. Immunological analysis of this downstream "readthrough" region reveals multiple coat protein-readthrough products. A full-length 72-kDa (P72) coat protein-readthrough fusion product is detected in total lysates from infected cells. However, purified aphid transmissible virions contain only a 50-kDa (P50) coat protein-readthrough product. Virion-associated P50 lacks the C-terminal domain predicted by its ORF sequence. A separate 33-kDa polypeptide (P33) corresponding to the readthrough C-terminus domain is detected in the crude cellular membrane fraction. Site-directed and deletion mutational analysis demonstrate that the readthrough ORF is dispensable for BYDV replication and virion accumulation in protoplasts. In contrast, a mutant which results in a continuous fusion product of coat and readthrough sequences is not viable. Point mutations were used to map regions required for P50 and P72 synthesis. A model explaining the relationships between the three forms of the readthrough polypeptides is proposed.

Base Sequence↗

Identification of stop codon readthrough genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We specifically sought genes within the yeast genome controlled by a non-conventional translation mechanism involving the stop codon. For this reason, we designed a computer program using the yeast database genomic regions, and seeking two adjacent open reading frames separated only by a unique stop codon (called SORFs). Among the 58 SORFs identified, eight displayed a stop codon bypass level ranging from 3 to 25%. For each of the eight sequences, we demonstrated the presence of a poly(A) mRNA. Using isogenic [PSI(+)] and [psi(-)] yeast strains, we showed that for two of the sequences the mechanism used is a bona fide readthrough. However, the six remaining sequences were not sensitive to the PSI state, indicating either a translation termination process independent of eRF3 or a new stop codon bypass mechanism. Our results demonstrate that the presence of a stop codon in a large ORF may not always correspond to a sequencing error, or a pseudogene, but can be a recoding signal in a functional gene. This emphasizes that genome annotation should take into account the fact that recoding signals could be more frequently used than previously expected.

Base Sequence↗

Construction and expression of 75kDa readthrough protein gene from beet necrotic yellow vein virus.

Using DNA recombinant techniques, coat protein (CP) gene and 54kDa fragment from beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) RNA2 were ligated to construct 75kDa readthrough protein gene. Comparing with wild-type 75kDa readthrough protein gene, four nucleotides of the constructed gene were replaced, including CP amber termination codon UAG to AUG. Correspondingly, two amino acids were changed. The temperature inducible expression vectors containing 75kDa readthrough protein gene or its 54kDa fragment were constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3), respectively. The results of SDS-PAGE and Western blotting showed that (1) the 75kDa readthrough protein gene was expressed specifically by temperature induction and some smaller protein components, one of which is 37 kDa, were observed as well; (2) only a 37kDa protein was produced from the 54kDa fragment.

Base Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequences of the coat protein and readthrough protein genes of the Chinese GAV isolate of barley yellow dwarf virus.

The nucleotide sequences of the coat protein (CP) and readthrough protein (RTP) genes of the Chinese GAV isolate of Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) were determined. The CP and RTP genes of GAV isolate comprised 600 and 1374 nucleotides, respectively. When the CP and RTP gene sequences of GAV isolate were compared with those of BYDV isolates MAV-PS1, P-PAV, NY-SGV and Cereal yellow dwarf virus RPV (CYDV-RPV), the highest similarity (97.2%) between the CP genes of GAV and MAV-PS1 isolates was observed, while the RTP genes of these two isolates shared a lower similarity (87.8%). The results of the alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences of RTP showed that the sequence diversity observed was located at the C terminus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Computational analysis of stop codon readthrough in D.melanogaster.

MOTIVATION: Readthrough is an unusual process in which a stop codon is misread or skipped. Recently it has been shown that some translation is regulated by the readthrough reactions although the complete mechanism is not clear. Therefore, the discovery of 'readthrough genes' is important for further investigation of their cellular roles, which may provide additional insights into the mechanism of translational regulation. RESULTS: We constructed a system that lists candidates of readthrough genes based on the existence of a 'protein motif' at the 3' untranslated region (UTR). Using this system, we extracted 85 candidates from 4082 nucleic acid sequences of Drosophila melanogaster in GenBank database. The sequences of these candidates had a slightly more stable secondary structure and different base preferences compared to the non-candidates. As these features are known to have an effect on readthrough events, we would like to suggest that these candidates contain actual readthrough genes. AVAILABILITY: Source code of the system is available upon request.

Algorithms↗

cDNA cloning and sequencing of 54kDa fragment of the 75kDa readthrough protein gene from beet necrotic yellow vein virus.

With viral RNA extracted from purified beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) isolated from Inner Mongolia, the first strand of cDNA encoding a 54kDa fragment of the 75kDa readthrough protein on the RNA2 was synthesized by reverse transcription. A double-strand cDNA fragment of 1.5 kb was obtained after 30 cycles of PCR amplification. The fragment was ligated into and mapped on pGEM-7Zf(+). The result of sequence analysis shows that the 54kDa readthrough domain is 1509 nucleotides (nt). Compared with F13 isolate, the fragment shares 94.97% identity in terms of nucleotides with 3 nt deletion and 96.42% identity of deduced amino acids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The cDNA for the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin suggests evolution of a gene by readthrough into the 3'-untranslated region.

A 579-base pair approximately full-length cDNA which codes for the 145-amino acid long beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) has been cloned in the plasmid vector pBR322 and its complete nucleotide sequence determined. A hydrophobic presequence of 20 amino acids can be identified from the nucleotide sequence. The amino acid sequence of the beta-subunit is known to be related to those of the beta-subunits of the other glycoprotein hormones LH, FSH and TSH, but the beta-subunit of HCG is unique in that it contains a C-terminal extension of about 30 amino acids which has no homologous counterpart in the other three hormones. Analysis of the beta HCG cDNA nucleotide sequence suggests that this extension may have arisen by the loss of the termination codon of an ancestral beta-like gene so that most of what was previously the 3'-untranslated region now codes for protein. The beta-subunit of HCG terminates with the codon UAA located 16 bases before the poly(A) in the sequence AAUAAA. This sequence is believed to be a recognition signal involved in either polyadenylation or processing and therefore has a dual role in this gene, serving both a coding and a regulatory function.

Base Sequence↗

BDNF-DT and BDNF-AS-DT: novel genes in the BDNF locus.

Divergent transcription from bidirectional promoters is frequently observed in eukaryotic genomes, but the biological relevance of divergent RNA transcripts (DT) is unknown. We identified and characterized BDNF-DT, a novel DT gene, and BDNF-AS-DT, a novel readthrough gene, in the locus containing BDNF, a gene with key roles in neuronal development, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity. BDNF-DT is independent from the known BDNF antisense (BDNF-AS), and its expression is developmentally regulated and positively correlated with BDNF in human postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). BDNF-DT and BDNF-AS-DT expression increase after induced depolarization, but the temporal dynamics follow expression of BDNF, suggesting a regulatory role. Moreover, CRISPR-mediated upregulation of BDNF in human neural progenitor cells drives BDNF-DT expression. Finally, BDNF-DT shows higher expression in DLPFC from patients diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to neurotypical controls, and genetically predicted lower expression of the BDNF-AS-DT readthrough transcript is associated with schizophrenia and with the schizophrenia-associated C allele of the rs6265 single-nucleotide polymorphism. These findings identify BDNF-DT and BDNF-AS-DT as novel, low-abundance genes that show coordinated expression with BDNF and association with schizophrenia risk, though their biological significance requires further validation given detection limitations and the need to establish causal roles.

Humans↗

CLN3 transcript complexity revealed by long-read RNA sequencing analysis.

BACKGROUND: Batten disease is a group of rare inherited neurodegenerative diseases. Juvenile CLN3 disease is the most prevalent type, and the most common pathogenic variant shared by most patients is the "1-kb" deletion which removes two internal coding exons (7 and 8) in CLN3. Previously, we identified two transcripts in patient fibroblasts homozygous for the 1-kb deletion: the 'major' and 'minor' transcripts. To understand the full variety of disease transcripts and their role in disease pathogenesis, it is necessary to first investigate CLN3 transcription in "healthy" samples without juvenile CLN3 disease. METHODS: We leveraged PacBio long-read RNA sequencing datasets from ENCODE to investigate the full range of CLN3 transcripts across various tissues and cell types in human control samples. Then we sought to validate their existence using data from different sources. RESULTS: We found that a readthrough gene affects the quantification and annotation of CLN3. After taking this into account, we detected over 100 novel CLN3 transcripts, with no dominantly expressed CLN3 transcript. The most abundant transcript has median usage of 42.9%. Surprisingly, the known disease-associated 'major' transcripts are detected. Together, they have median usage of 1.5% across 22 samples. Furthermore, we identified 48 CLN3 ORFs, of which 26 are novel. The predominant ORF that encodes the canonical CLN3 protein isoform has median usage of 66.7%, meaning around one-third of CLN3 transcripts encode protein isoforms with different stretches of amino acids. The same ORFs could be found with alternative UTRs. Moreover, we were able to validate the translational potential of certain transcripts using public mass spectrometry data. CONCLUSION: Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the complexity of CLN3 transcription, highlighting the importance of studying both canonical and non-canonical CLN3 protein isoforms as well as the regulatory role of UTRs to fully comprehend the regulation and function(s) of CLN3. This knowledge is essential for investigating the impact of the 1-kb deletion and rare pathogenic variants on CLN3 transcription and disease pathogenesis.

Humans↗

Sequence requirements for terminators and antiterminators in the T box transcription antitermination system: disparity between conservation and functional requirements.

The T box transcription termination control system is used in Gram-positive bacteria to regulate expression of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and other amino acid-related genes. Readthrough of a transcriptional terminator located in the leader region of the target gene is dependent on a specific interaction between the nascent leader transcript and the cognate uncharged tRNA. This interaction is required for formation of an antiterminator structure in the leader, which prevents formation of a competing transcriptional terminator stem-loop. The antiterminators and terminators of genes in this family are highly conserved in both secondary structure and primary sequence; the antiterminator contains the T box sequence, which is the most highly conserved leader element. These conserved features were investigated by phylogenetic and mutational analysis. Changes at highly conserved positions in the bulge and in the helix above the bulge reduced function, while alteration of other positions that were as much as 96% conserved did not have a major effect. The disparity between sequence conservation and function may be due to the requirement for maintaining base pairing in both the antiterminator and terminator structures.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Reporter gene expression upon stable transfection when only a TATA box or a TATA box plus Sp1 sites are present 5' to the gene.

Episomal plasmids for stable transfection of mammalian cell cultures were constructed that have a G418-resistance (neo) gene immediately downstream of a highly truncated promoter. These plasmids had a function hygromycin-resistance gene (hyg) as a selectable marker. Surprisingly, in LTK- cells, but not HeLa cells, stably transfected with these BK virus-based plasmids having no promoter elements adjacent to the neo gene, readthrough transcription, probably from about 1 kb upstream, gave almost as efficient expression of the neo gene as of the hyg gene with a full-length promoter immediately upstream. When the transfecting plasmids contained Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA sequences for episomal maintenance and had multiple Sp1 sites and a TATA box as the only promoter elements 5' to the neo gene, only about 3-9% of HeLa transfectants were G418 resistant (G418R). In transfections with analogous plasmids lacking these promoter elements 5' to the neo gene, no G418R colonies were seen. The establishment of the G418R phenotype probably required integration of plasmid DNA into favorable chromosomal sites and was aided by the presence of the TATA box plus Sp1 sites as a subminimal promoter. The absence of detectable G418-resistance in most of the HeLa transfectant clones obtained with EBV-type plasmids, even at a high plasmid copy number and even when a TATA box and six Sp1 sites were present immediately upstream of the neo gene, indicates that these elements do not suffice for appreciable gene expression in vivo and that this is a suitable model system for studying DNA rearrangements that can potentiate expression of the neo gene.

Animals↗

Analysis of translational termination of recombinant human methionyl-neurotrophin 3 in Escherichia coli.

A highly efficient UGA stop codon readthrough event during the synthesis of human neurotrophin 3 in E. coli is described. The incorporation of a Trp residue at the UGA stop codon is confirmed combining both the chemical analyses and the molecular and genetic data in this report. The 3' adjacent nuleotide to the UGA stop codon plays a crucial role in determining the readthrough efficiency in the order of A > G > C > U. The replacement of UGA with UAA or UAG totally abolished this readthrough phenomenon and the use of StpR host cells also prevented the occurrence of UGA readthrough. Gene dosage (or plasmid copy number) effect was not indicated in this event; however, the titration of RF-2 by mRNA transcripts under over-expression conditions might explain why tRNAtrp competes so well with RF-2 for UGA. Another apparently less produced readthrough product resulting from a transcript with no stop codon is also recorded, and the addition of a second in-frame stop codon increased the amount of the observed readthrough product.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transcriptional readthrough of Hox genes Ubx and Antp and their divergent post-transcriptional control during crustacean evolution.

Hox genes are in principle tandemly arranged in an order colinear with their order of expression along the anterior-posterior axis. Combinations of Hox proteins encode information that specifies the unique characteristics of axial regions in the metazoan body plan. The independent regulation of Hox genes achieved by differential promoter activity is essential for the expression of Hox proteins in distinct territories and thereby creating a full repertoire of Hox codes. Here we report the abundant expression of transcriptional readthrough products of two adjacent Hox genes, Ubx, and Antp, in five crustacean species of Branchiopoda and Malacostraca. Bicistronic mRNA places Antp under the control of the Ubx promoter, which is active in the posterior segments of two branchiopodans Daphnia and Artemia, and would normally reduce the complexity of Hox codes if translated. This does not occur, however, as the translational capability of the bicistronic mRNA is limited. In Daphnia, bicistronic Ubx/Antp mRNA produced no significant level of either UBX or ANTP. In Artemia, on the other hand, the bicistronic mRNA produced only UBX, and replaced the role of monocistronic Ubx mRNA. In this way, multiple post-transcriptional control mechanisms in two extant branchiopodans can be seen as preventing the potentially deleterious consequences of Hox gene fusion.

Animals↗

The product of the respiratory syncytial virus M2 gene ORF1 enhances readthrough of intergenic junctions during viral transcription.

The mRNA encoding the M2 protein of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus contains two open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes the 22-kDa structural protein, M2, and ORF2 has the potential to encode a 10-kDa protein (90 amino acids). Using a vaccinia virus T7 expression system, we examined the RNA synthetic activities of mono- and dicistronic subgenomic replicons of RS virus by direct metabolic labeling of RNA in the presence and absence of the products of ORF1 and ORF2. In the absence of ORF1 and ORF2, the negative- and positive-sense products of genomic RNA replication and positive-sense polyadenylated mRNA(s) were synthesized. Expression of the whole M2 transcription unit (containing ORF1 and ORF2) or ORF1 alone caused an increase in the synthesis of polyadenylated mRNA, the majority of which was due to a substantial increase in the quantity of polycistronic mRNAs generated by the polymerase failing to terminate at gene end signals. In agreement with previous reports, the ORF2 product was found to inhibit viral RNA replication and mRNA transcription. These data show that the M2 protein functions as a transcriptional antiterminator that enhances the ability of the viral RNA polymerase to read through intergenic junctions. The role of such a function during the viral life cycle is discussed.

Base Sequence↗

The upstream-activating sequences of the sigma54 promoter Pu of Pseudomonas putida filter transcription readthrough from upstream genes.

Although the m-xylene-responsive sigma54 promoter Pu of Pseudomonas putida mt-2, borne by the TOL plasmid pWWO, is one of the strongest known promoters in vivo, its base-line level in the absence of its aromatic inducer is below the limit of any detection procedure. This is unusual because regulatory networks (such as the one to which Pu belongs) can hardly escape the noise caused by intrinsic fluctuations in background transcription, including that transmitted from upstream promoters. This study provides genetic evidence that the upstream-activating sequences (UAS), which serve as the binding sites for the pWW0-encoded XylR protein (the m-xylene-responsive sigma54-dependent activator of Pu), isolate expression of the upper TOL genes from any adventitious transcriptional flow originating further upstream. An in vivo test system was developed in which different segments of the Pu promoter were examined for the inhibition of incoming transcription products from an upstream promoter in P. putida and Escherichia coli. Minimal transcription filter ability was located within a 105-bp fragment encompassing the UAS of Pu. Although S1 nuclease assays showed that the UAS prevented the buildup of downstream transcripts, the mechanism seems to diverge from a typical termination system. This was shown by the fact that the UAS did not halt transcription in vitro and that the filter effect could not be relieved by the anti-termination system of lambda phage. Because the Pu promoter lies adjacent to the edge of a transposon in pWW0, the preset transcriptional filter in the UAS may isolate the upper TOL operon from undue expression after random insertion of the mobile genetic element in a new replicon.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Maize bronze 1:dSpm insertion mutations that are not fully suppressed by an active Spm.

The Suppressor-mutator (Spm) family of maize transposable elements consists of autonomous Spm elements and nonautonomous defective Spm (dSpm) elements. One characteristic of this family is that the insertion of dSpm elements into a structural gene often permits some level of structural gene expression in the absence of SpM activity, and this structural gene expression is suppressed in trans by Spm activity. The Spm's subterminal repetitive regions (SRRs) contain several iterations of a 12-bp repeat motif. It had been proposed that binding of an Spm-encoded protein to these repeat motifs blocks structural gene transcriptional readthrough, thus suppressing gene expression. The bz-m13 allele of the bronze 1 locus contains a 2.24-kb dSpm insertion in the second exon of a Bz allele. In the absence of Spm activity, bz-m13 displays substantial Bz expression, and this expression is fully suppressed by Spm. Four intra-dSpm deletion derivatives are described in which this Bz expression is only partially suppressed by Spm. Each of these derivatives retains at least 12 SRR repeat motifs. Thus the presence of these repeat motifs is not sufficient to guarantee complete suppression by Spm. Some other property such as secondary structure or element size must play a role.

Alleles↗

Regulation of the Escherichia coli K5 capsule gene cluster by transcription antitermination.

The expression of the Escherichia coli K5 (group II) capsular polysaccharide requires the rfaH gene. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) it was possible to demonstrate that RfaH increases the transcription of region 2 genes by readthrough transcription from the region 3 promoter. A mutation in the rfaH gene reduced this readthrough transcription from the region 3 promoter by 10-fold as measured by quantitative RT-PCR. The region 3 promoter was mapped to 741 bp 5' of the initiation codon of the kpsM gene. Deletion and insertion mutagenesis of the JUMPstart sequence, which is 28 bp 5' of kpsM and is conserved upstream of RfaH-regulated operons and other polysaccharide biosynthesis genes, confirmed that this sequence was required for expression of the K5 antigen and for the antitermination activity of RfaH. The JUMPstart sequence could cause RfaH-dependent antitermination at other Rho-dependent terminators, suggesting that the JUMPstart sequence may function in a manner analogous to a lambda nut site. On the basis of these results we propose a model by which RfaH regulates expression of E. coli group II capsule gene clusters by allowing readthrough transcription to proceed from region 3 into region 2 and that sequences within the JUMPstart sequence are essential for this process.

Antigens, Bacterial↗