The modification of the wobble base of tRNA(Glu) modulates the translation rate of glutamic acid codons in vivo
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In Escherichia coli, uridine in the wobble position of tRNA(Glu) and tRNA(Lys) is modified to mnm5s2U34. This modification is believed to restrict the base-pairing capability, i.e. to prevent misreading of near-cognate codons and reduce the efficiency of cognate codon reading, especially of codons ending in G. We have determined the influence of the 5-methylaminomethyl and the 2-thio modifications of mnm5s2U34 in tRNA(Glu) the on translation rate of the glutamate codons GAA and GAG in vivo. in wild-type cells, GAG is translated slower (7.7 codons/second) and GAA faster (18 codons/second) than the average codon (13 codons/second). Surprisingly, tRNA(Glu) lacking the 5-methylaminomethyl group, thus containing s2U34, translated GAA twofold faster (47 codons/second) and GAG fourfold slower (1.9 codons/second) than fully modified tRNA(Glu). In contrast, tRNA(Glu) that contains mnm5U34 instead of mnm5s2U34 translated GAA fourfold slower (4.5 codons/second) and GAG only 20% slower (6.2 codons/second). Clearly, the 5-methylaminomethyl group of mnm5s2U34 facilitates base-pairing with G while decreasing base-pairing with A, resulting in rates of translation of GAG and GAA that approach that of the average codon. The 2-thio group increases the recognition of GAA and has only a minor effect on the decoding of GAG. Furthermore, the 2-thio group is important for aminoacylation (see the accompanying paper). These data imply that the function of mnm5s2U34 may be different from what has been suggested previously.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Molecular Biology |
Volume | 284 |
Issue number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 621-631 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISSN | 0022-2836 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 4 Dec 1998 |
- 5-Methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, Affinity, Anticodon, Codon, Escherichia coli
Research areas
ID: 222321853