Programmed translational −1 frameshifting on hexanucleotide motifs and the wobble properties of tRNAs

• Published in: The EMBO journal 2003-09, Vol.22 (18), p.4770-4778
• Main Authors: Fayet, Olivier, Licznar, Patricia, Mejlhede, Nina, Prère, Marie-Françoise, Wills, Norma, Gesteland, Raymond F, Atkins, John F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Base Sequence; Codon - genetics; E coli; EMBO36; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli Proteins - genetics; Frameshift Mutation - genetics; frameshifting; hexanucleotide; insertion sequences; Kinetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Plasmids - genetics; Protein Biosynthesis; RNA, Bacterial - genetics; RNA, Transfer - genetics; tRNA Lys; tRNA modification; wobble
• ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075; 1460-2075
• DOI: 10.1093/emboj/cdg465

Programmed −1 ribosomal frameshifting, involving tRNA re‐pairing from an AAG codon to an AAA codon, has been reported to occur at the sequences CGA AAG and CAA AAG. In this study, using the recoding region of insertion sequence IS 3 , we have investigated the influence on frameshifting in Escherichia coli of the first codon of this type of motif by changing it to all other NNA codons. Two classes of NNA codons were distinguished, depending on whether they favor or limit frameshifting. Their degree of shiftiness is correlated with wobble propensity, and base 34 modification, of their decoding tRNAs. A more flexible anticodon loop very likely makes the tRNAs with extended wobble more prone to liberate the third codon base, A, for re‐pairing of tRNA Lys in the −1 frame.