Time of action of 4.5 S RNA in Escherichia coli translation

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

A new class of suppressor mutants helps to define the role of 4.5 S RNA in translation. The suppressors reduce the requirement for 4.5 S RNA by increasing the intracellular concentration of uncharged tRNA. Suppression probably occurs by prolonging the period in which translating ribosomes have translocated but not yet released the uncharged tRNA, indicating that this is the point at which 4.5 S RNA enters translation. The release of 4.5 S RNA from polysomes is affected by antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis. The antibiotic-sensitivity of this release indicates that 4.5 S RNA exits the ribosome following translocation and prior to release of protein synthesis elongation factor G. These results indicate that 4.5 S RNA acts immediately after ribosomal translocation. A model is proposed in which 4.5 S RNA stabilizes the post-translocation state by replacing 23 S ribosomal RNA as a binding site for elongation factor G. The 4.5 S RNA-requirement of mutants altered in 23 S ribosomal RNA support this model.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Molecular Biology
Volume209
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)79-90
Number of pages11
ISSN0022-2836
Publication statusPublished - 1989

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Escherichia coli; Genes, Bacterial; Glutamate-tRNA Ligase; Mutation; Protein Biosynthesis; RNA, Bacterial; RNA, Ribosomal; RNA, Transfer; RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl; Suppression, Genetic; Valine-tRNA Ligase

ID: 9298342