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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Efficient translation destabilizes transcripts in chloroplasts of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

We previously reported that high level of reporter gene transcript does not confer high amount of reporter protein accumulation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast transformants. Here, to further clarify the correlation between the level of transcript and protein accumulation, we generated the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene (uidA) constructs with different potential for translation efficiency of the GUS protein by incorporating different 5' and 3'-untranslated regions of chloroplast genes into each construct. The relationship between mRNA stability and translation efficiency of the GUS reporter gene in each construct were then studied in C. reinhardtii stable chloroplast transformants. We found that sequences of the two nucleotides immediately upstream of the initial codon were important for translation efficiency and that transformants showing high GUS activity accumulated lower level of uidA transcripts than the transformants with low GUS activity. Moreover, accumulation and half-lives of these chimeric-uidA transcripts were increased to the same level in the presence of translation inhibitor. The accumulation and/or half-lives of several endogenous chloroplast transcripts were also increased by such inhibitor. Collectively, our results indicate that efficient translation destabilizes transcripts in chloroplasts of C. reinhardtii, and that there is an apparent negative correlation between protein accumulation and mRNA stability.

Animals↗

5' Untranslated region of the Hsp12 gene contributes to efficient translation in Aspergillus oryzae.

We describe a 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) that dramatically increases the expression level of an exogenous gene in Aspergillus oryzae. Using a series of 5'UTR::GUS (uidA) fusion constructs, we analyzed the translation efficiency of chimeric mRNAs with different 5'UTRs at different temperatures. We found that the 5'UTR of a heat-shock protein gene, Hsp12, greatly enhanced the translation efficiency of the chimeric GUS mRNA at normal temperature (30 degrees C). Moreover, at high temperature (37 degrees C), the translation efficiency of the mRNA containing the Hsp12 5'UTR was far superior to that of mRNAs containing nonheat-shock 5'UTRs, resulting in much more efficient expression of GUS protein (about 20-fold higher GUS activity compared to the control construct). This 5'UTR can be used in combination with various strong promoters to enhance the expression of foreign proteins in A. oryzae.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

The stem-loop region of the tobacco psbA 5'UTR is an important determinant of mRNA stability and translation efficiency.

Regulation of chloroplast gene expression involves networked and concerted interactions of nucleus-encoded factors with their target sites on untranslated regions (UTRs) of chloroplast transcripts. So far, only a few cis-acting elements within such 5'UTR sequences have been identified as functional determinants of mRNA stability and efficient translation in Chlamydomonas in vivo. In this study, we have used chloroplast transformation and site-directed mutagenesis to analyse the functions of the 5'UTRs of tobacco psbA and rbcL fused to the coding region of the reporter gene uidA. Various mutant versions of the psbA leader, as well as rbcL/psbA hybrid leader elements, were investigated. Our results showed a 1.5- to 3-fold decrease in uidA mRNA levels and a 1.5- to 6-fold reduction in uidA translation efficiency in all psbA 5'UTR stem-loop mutants generated by sequence deletions and base alterations. This indicates that the correct primary sequence and secondary structure of the psbA 5'UTR stem-loop are required for mRNA stabilisation and translation. The 5'-terminal segment of the rbcL 5'UTR did not enhance the stability or translational activity of chimeric uidA mRNA under the standard light-dark regime of 16 h light and 8 h dark. Stabilising effects were, however, observed when the cells were kept continuously in the dark. Possible reasons for the influence of the 5'UTR of the tobacco psbA on mRNA stability and translation efficiency are discussed.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Coat protein enhances translational efficiency of Alfalfa mosaic virus RNAs and interacts with the eIF4G component of initiation factor eIF4F.

The three plus-strand genomic RNAs of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and the subgenomic messenger for viral coat protein (CP) contain a 5'-cap structure, but no 3'-poly(A) tail. Binding of CP to the 3' end of AMV RNAs is required for efficient translation of the viral RNAs and to initiate infection in plant cells. To study the role of CP in translation, plant protoplasts were transfected with luciferase (Luc) transcripts with 3'-terminal sequences consisting of the 3' untranslated region of AMV RNA 3 (Luc-AMV), a poly(A) tail of 50 residues [Luc-poly(A)] or a short vector-derived sequence (Luc-control). Pre-incubation of the transcripts with CP had no effect on Luc expression from Luc-poly(A) or Luc-control, but strongly stimulated Luc expression from Luc-AMV. From time-course experiments, it was calculated that CP binding increased the half-life of Luc-AMV by 20 % and enhanced its translational efficiency by about 40-fold. In addition to the 3' AMV sequence, the cap structure was required for CP-mediated stimulation of Luc-AMV translation. Glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays revealed an interaction between AMV CP and initiation factor complexes eIF4F and eIFiso4F from wheatgerm. Far-Western blotting revealed that this binding occurred through an interaction of CP with the eIF4G and eIFiso4G subunits of eIF4F and eIFiso4F, respectively. The results support the hypothesis that the role of CP in translation of viral RNAs mimics the role of the poly(A)-binding protein in translation of cellular mRNAs.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

5'-Conformation of capped alfalfa mosaic virus ribonucleic acid 4 may reflect its independence of the cap structure or of cap-binding protein for efficient translation.

Most eukaryotic mRNAs are characterized by the presence of a 5'-terminal cap structure (m7GpppN), and removal of the cap or translation of capped mRNAs in the presence of cap analogues (m7G) results in most cases in a significant decrease in the translational efficiency of the mRNAs. One way of explaining the importance of the 5'-cap is that cap-binding proteins recognize the cap structure, destabilize the mRNA secondary structure, and thus allow the 40S ribosomal subunit to bind to the mRNA [Sonenberg, N., Guertin, D., Cleveland, D., & Trachsel, H. (1981) Cell (Cambridge, Mass.) 27, 563-572]. Our data and those of others indicate that the translational efficiency of alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 4 (AMV-4 RNA), a naturally capped RNA, is not affected significantly by cap analogues or by removal of the cap. In order to examine the potential relationship between the function of the cap structure and secondary structure at the 5'-mRNA terminus, partial enzymatic digestion of capped AMV-4 RNA with single strand specific and double strand specific nucleases has been performed, and the experimental data have been compared with computer-generated models of AMV-4 secondary structure. In addition, the in vitro translatability of AMV-4 has been examined as a function of increasing potassium concentration, conditions that are likely to increase mRNA secondary structure. The nuclease-digestion results demonstrate that under native ionic conditions, the 5'-terminus of AMV-4 RNA is predominantly single stranded, although computer modeling and double-strand nuclease digestions indicate that the 5'-terminus can form weak base pairs with internal regions of the molecule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗

Efficient translation of mouse hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

The heterodimeric hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), consisting of the subunits HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta/ARNT, is a master transcriptional regulator of oxygen homeostasis. Under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1alpha levels very rapidly increase, mostly due to protein stabilization. However, translational regulation of HIF-1alpha has not been directly analyzed so far. Mouse HIF-1alpha exists as two mRNA isoforms (termed mHIF-1alphaI.1 and mHIF-1alphaI. 2) containing structurally different 5'-termini which might modulate translation initiation. Whereas the in vitro translation efficiency of these two mRNA isoforms was about equal, the mHIF-1alphaI.2 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) conferred significantly higher in vivo luciferase reporter gene activity than the mHIF-1alphaI.1 5'-UTR. Similar corresponding luciferase mRNA levels indicate translational rather than transcriptional alterations. Reporter gene expression was not affected upon exposure of transiently transfected cells to hypoxia (1% oxygen). Direct assessment of translational regulation by polysomal profile analysis of HeLaS3 cells showed that HIF-1alpha (and to a lower extent ARNT) mRNA was found mainly in the translationally active polyribosomal fractions under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. In contrast, the association of mRNAs for beta-actin and ribosomal protein L28 with the polyribosomal fractions was substantially reduced under hypoxic conditions, suggesting decreased overall protein synthesis. Thus, efficient translation of mouse HIF-1alpha in a situation where the general translation efficiency is reduced represents a prerequisite for the very rapid accumulation of HIF-1alpha protein upon exposure to hypoxia.

Animals↗

The hepatitis C virus 3'-untranslated region or a poly(A) tract promote efficient translation subsequent to the initiation phase.

Enhancement of eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA) translation initiation by the 3' poly(A) tail is mediated through interaction of poly(A)-binding protein with eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4G, bridging the 5' terminal cap structure. In contrast to cellular mRNA, translation of the uncapped, non-polyadenylated hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome occurs independently of eIF4G and a role for 3'-untranslated sequences in modifying HCV gene expression is controversial. Utilizing cell-based and in vitro translation assays, we show that the HCV 3'-untranslated region (UTR) or a 3' poly(A) tract of sufficient length interchangeably stimulate translation dependent upon the HCV internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). However, in contrast to cap-dependent translation, the rate of initiation at the HCV IRES was unaffected by 3'-untranslated sequences. Analysis of post-initiation events revealed that the 3' poly(A) tract and HCV 3'-UTR improve translation efficiency by enabling termination and possibly ribosome recycling for successive rounds of translation.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

A novel ribosome-associated protein is important for efficient translation in Escherichia coli.

Previously, we showed that strains which have been deleted for the 21K gene (hereafter called yfjA), of the trmD operon, encoding a 21-kDa protein (21K protein) have an approximately fivefold-reduced growth rate in rich medium. Here we show that such mutants show an up to sevenfold reduced growth rate in minimal medium, a twofold-lower cell yield-to-carbon source concentration ratio, and a reduced polypeptide chain growth rate of beta-galactosidase. Suppressor mutations that increased the growth rate and translational efficiency of a delta yfjA mutant were localized to the 3' part of rpsM, encoding ribosomal protein S13. The 21K protein was shown to have affinity for free 30S ribosomal subunits but not for 70S ribosomes. Further, the 21K protein seems to contain a KH domain and a KOW motif, both suggested to be involved in binding of RNA. These findings suggest that the 21K protein is essential for a proper function of the ribosome and is involved in the maturation of the ribosomal 30S subunits or in translation initiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the start sites for the 1.9- and 1.4-kb rat transforming growth factor-beta1 transcripts and their effect on translational efficiency.

Three distinct transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) transcripts of 2.5, 1.9 and 1.4kb have been described, but the start sites and functional significance of the shorter transcripts are unknown. Here, we have cloned and sequenced a rat genomic fragment encoding approximately 1250 bases upstream of the start of the TGF-beta1 open reading frame. Using a combination of ribonuclease protection and 5' RACE-PCR analysis, we have mapped the start sites for the two shorter TGF-beta1 transcripts in NRP152 cells, a rat prostatic epithelial cell line that expresses all three transcripts at high levels. The 1.4-kb mRNA starts 25 bases upstream of the initiator AUG, whereas the 1.9-kb mRNA has two start sites 366 and 401 bases upstream of the AUG. Polysome analysis of the NRP152 cells indicates that the 1.9-kb transcript is very efficiently translated, whereas the 2.5- and 1.4-kb transcripts appear to be poorly translated. Differential regulation of TGF-beta1 transcript size may therefore represent an important mechanism for regulating TGF-beta1 protein levels.

Animals↗

Both RNA level and translation efficiency are reduced by anti-sense RNA in transgenic tobacco.

The effect of anti-sense RNA on the expression of the bialaphos resistance (bar) gene which encodes phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT), was analysed in tobacco. Transient expression studies revealed that an anti-bar RNA with sequence complementarity to the complete bar coding region, inhibits PAT synthesis. To quantify the phenomenon, SR1 tobacco cells were transformed twice to introduce first a hybrid bar gene with a reporter gene and in a second instance an anti-bar gene. A first cycle transformant and a double transformant derived herefrom in which PAT synthesis was reduced to only 8%, were studied in detail. The interference of the anti-sense gene with the expression of the bar gene is manifested at least two levels. First, the bar mRNA steady state level is significantly reduced relative to the parental whereas the transcript level of the reporter gene is unchanged. Comparison of bar mRNA levels in total and single stranded (ss) RNA preparations demonstrated that little if any stably base-pairing bar and anti-bar RNA accumulates. Secondly, a three fold reduction of PAT synthesis per bar mRNA is observed. This supposes that because of unstable interactions with the complementary anti-bar RNA either a substantial part of the bar mRNA detected does not enter the cytoplasm and/or that in the cytoplasm the bar mRNA is less efficiently translated. It is not clear if or how the reduced bar mRNA level is related to such unstable interactions.

Acetyltransferases↗

3' non-translated region of human alpha-globin messenger RNA does not affect translation efficiency.

The relative translation efficiency of three synthetic alpha-globin mRNAs differing by their 3' non-translated end was measured in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Results showed that substituting the 3' non-translated end of human alpha 2 globin mRNA by the 3' non-translated end of chimpanzee alpha 1 or alpha 2 mRNAs has no effect on translation efficiency. In contrast, the introduction of the alpha-Quong-Sze mutation (alpha 125, Leu----Pro) in human alpha 2 mRNA led to a 50% apparent reduction in globin synthesis due to the instability of the alpha-Quong-Sze globin chain. We conclude that human alpha 1 and alpha 2 globin mRNAs have the same translation efficiency, and that the reduction, previously reported, in the kinetics of alpha-globin synthesis by alpha 2 mRNA carrying the alpha-Quong-Sze mutation is due to the instability of the alpha-Quong-Sze globin chain only.

DNA, Recombinant↗

Does quantitative tRNA adaptation to codon content in mRNA optimize the ribosomal translation efficiency? Proposal for a translation system model.

Neither a dynamic nor an energetic approach of the translation process has taken into account that intracellular levels of iso-tRNA species are adapted or adjusted to the codon frequency of mRNA being decoded (Bombyx mori silk gland, rabbit reticulocyte). A critical study of available experimental data suggests that the average elongation rate of a protein is maximized in the presence of an adapted tRNA population, usually an homologous tRNA. In addition, the amount of synthesized protein parallels that of corresponding mRNA. Other evidences--including in vitro and in vivo elongation assays with fibroin mRNA--show that individual elongation rates are not uniform. Pauses occur at certain sites of the mRNA chain. The relative lifetime of these pauses depends on the tRNA pool used. Finally, it appears that translation accuracy also depends on the balanced tRNA population. We propose to explain these different effects by using a codon-anticodon recognition model, called "trial and error system" based on a stochastic processing of the ribosome. Accordingly, various acylated tRNA species which surround a ribosome randomly encounter the receptor A site. Every trapped tRNA species is tested for a proper pairing with the codon to be recognized at the level of a comparator or discriminator function. If the pairing is correct, transpeptidation becomes irreversible. If not, the aminoacyl-tRNA is rejected and another randomly trapped tRNA is processed in turn. Mathematical analysis of this model shows that the mean number of trials used for translating the whole sequence of a mRNA is minimized when the proportion of different iso-tRNA species is correlated with the square root of codon frequency. Quantitations of reticulocyte tRNA support such a parabolic relation. Our translation system model brings some light into the role of tRNA adaptation for optimizing translation efficiency, i.e. maximizing both speed and accuracy. Some consequences of the model are discussed.

Codon↗

Analyzing and enhancing mRNA translational efficiency in an Escherichia coli in vitro expression system.

The dependence of efficiency of translation initiation on mRNA sequence parameters was investigated in an Escherichia coli in vitro expression system. We designed a large-scale expression experiment focussing on the influence of sequence variations in the translated region (TR) of the mRNA without changing the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR). The level of translated protein from 756 expression constructs was measured and the influence of a large number of possible effector attributes was statistically analyzed. Base exchanges immediately adjacent to the start codon up to nucleotide (+)25 had a profound effect on translational efficiency. Correlation analysis revealed a significant dependence on base pair probability and G+C content on the expression level, indicating that mRNA secondary structure in this region hampers translation. Using our training data, we developed a methodology to predict and improve the translation efficiency of open reading frames (ORFs).

Bacterial Proteins↗

Mutations that alter the DNA binding site for the bacteriophage lambda cII protein and affect the translation efficiency of the cII gene.

The efficiency of translation of the cII gene of bacteriophage lambda is greatly reduced by the cII3059 mutation, a GUU----GAU (Val----Asp) change in the second cII codon. Mutations in the third and fourth codons of the cII gene, called ctr mutations, reverse this translation deficiency. Lambda cII3059 ctr-1, which has a GCA----ACA (Ala----Thr) change in the fourth cII codon, produces about half the normal level of cII activity in liquid cultures, and lambda cII3059 ctr-2 and lambda cII3059 ctr-3, which have identical CGT----CGC changes in the third codon, produce normal levels of cII activity in liquid culture. Since the cII protein of ctr-3 has the same primary sequence as that of lambda cII3059, the cII- phenotype of lambda cII3059 can be explained entirely by the deficiency of translating cII mRNA. We propose that ctr mutations increase translation efficiency by destabilizing a stable stem structure which can be formed by cII mRNA. The ctr mutations lie in an overlapping regulatory region which contains, in addition to sequence elements that influence the rate of cII translation, a region to which cII protein binds to activate transcription from the PRE promoter. The ctr-1 mutation alters the cII recognition sequence from 5'-T-T-G-C-N6T-T-G-C-3' to 5'-T-T-G-C-N6T-T-G-T-3', but has no effect on PRE activity. Since a C----T change in the first (5'-proximal) T-T-G-C sequence (to yield 5'-T-T-G-T-N6T-T-G-C) greatly lowers cII binding affinity, cII protein must not recognize the two T-T-G-C sequences in an identical manner.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

The relative translation efficiencies of reovirus messenger RNAs.

The relative translation efficiencies of reovirus messenger RNAs were measured by infecting BHK cells with serotype 1, 2, or 3 virus and measuring the rate of formation of each viral protein species and the amount of each viral single-stranded (ss) RNA species present in the infected cells throughout the multiplication cycle. The translation efficiency of each ssRNA species was then calculated as a percentage of the species that was translated most efficiently. The relative translation efficiencies of the various ssRNA species did not change significantly during the multiplication cycle and cognate mRNA species of serotype 1, 2, and 3 virus were generally translated with similar efficiencies. However, the relative translation efficiencies of the individual ssRNA species differed greatly. The most efficiently translated ssRNA species was usually species s4, followed by species m2 which, on average, was translated about two-thirds as efficiently as species s4. Species s2 and s3 were translated slightly less than one-half as efficiently as species s4; species m3, l2, and l3 one-quarter to one-third as efficiently; and species s1 one-twentieth to one-tenth as efficiently. Finally, species l1 and m1 were translated very inefficiently under all conditions; their translation efficiencies were usually no more than 1% of that of species s4.

Animals↗

Features in the 5' non-coding sequences of rabbit alpha and beta-globin mRNAs that affect translational efficiency.

The 5' non-coding sequence of rabbit beta-globin mRNA was mutagenized in an attempt to identify structural features that might contribute to the ability to support translation in an homologous rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Translational efficiency was not reduced by substitutions introduced in nearly every position of the beta-globin leader sequence, suggesting that the 5' non-coding domain of this highly efficient mRNA contains no special effector motifs. Instead, efficient translation appears to require only a moderately long leader sequence devoid of secondary structure, especially near the 5' end. Consistent with that interpretation, substitutions in several positions actually improved translation relative to the wild-type beta-globin leader sequence; experimental assessment of the secondary structure of these derivatives revealed a perfect inverse correlation between secondary structure content and translational efficiency. Other experiments probed the structural basis for the long-noted difference in translational efficiency between rabbit alpha and beta-globin mRNAs, a difference that was reproduced here using only the 5' non-coding domains of those mRNAs. The possibility that translation of ribosomal protein mRNAs might be modulated by a mechanism similar to that of alpha-globin mRNA is discussed. Because the beta-globin leader sequence has been incorporated into some popular expression vectors, and because globin genes are targets for gene therapy, this analysis of how globin mRNA leader sequences function in translation and how they can be improved may have practical applications.

Animals↗

Tissue-specific promoters of the alpha human folate receptor gene yield transcripts with divergent 5' leader sequences and different translational efficiencies.

The alpha human folate receptor (alphahFR), or KB cell folate receptor, gene contains two major promoters that produce transcripts, KB1 and KB4, varying only in the length and sequence of their 5' untranslated regions (UTRs). Using RNase protection assays specific for each isoform, we show that the level of expression of these two transcripts is tissue-specific, indicating that promoter usage is regulated, not constitutive. RNA stabilities and translational efficiencies of the KB1 and KB4 transcripts were compared to determine the functional significance of the different 5' UTRs. Analyses of RNA turnover in vivo with actinomycin D to block new transcription and in vitro with a cytoplasmic extract indicate no discernible differences in the stabilities of the two transcripts. However, the KB4 transcript is 2-3-fold more efficiently translated in wheat germ extracts in vitro and transfected CHO cells in vivo. Also, high ionic strength, which favours the formation of RNA secondary structure, differentially affects the translational efficiencies of the two transcripts. Translation of the longer KB1 mRNA is 2-5-fold more inhibited by hypertonic conditions than translation of the KB4 mRNA. Because the 5' UTR of KB1 is approximately four times longer than the 5' UTR of KB4, 149 bp (75%) of the KB1 5' UTR were deleted to determine whether the long leader sequence inhibited translation. The resulting derivative, dKB1, has a 5' UTR similar in length, but not sequence, to the 5' UTR of KB4. dKB1 is translated at a level approaching that of KB4 in wheat germ extracts, indicating that the upstream portion of the 5' leader sequence contributes to the relative translational inefficiency of KB1. Hence, one consequence of tissue-specific promoter usage is the production of alphahFR transcripts with different 5' non-coding regions that affect translational efficiency.

Animals↗

Comprehensive quantitative modeling of translation efficiency in a genome-reduced bacterium.

Translation efficiency has been mainly studied by ribosome profiling, which only provides an incomplete picture of translation kinetics. Here, we integrated the absolute quantifications of tRNAs, mRNAs, RNA half-lives, proteins, and protein half-lives with ribosome densities and derived the initiation and elongation rates for 475 genes (67% of all genes), 73 with high precision, in the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mpn). We found that, although the initiation rate varied over 160-fold among genes, most of the known factors had little impact on translation efficiency. Local codon elongation rates could not be fully explained by the adaptation to tRNA abundances, which varied over 100-fold among tRNA isoacceptors. We provide a comprehensive quantitative view of translation efficiency, which suggests the existence of unidentified mechanisms of translational regulation in Mpn.

RNA, Transfer↗