Summary
As measured by the breakdown of pulse-labeled RNA or hybridizable mRNA after RNA synthesis was limited with rifampicin, total unstable RNA was at least two-fold more stable in strain AB105. Details of the stabilization have been analyzed for trp operon mRNA. After synthesis was arrested by addition of tryptophan or rifampicin, the functional lifetime of trp (and also of lac) mRNA was normal. However, two pools of trp mRNA molecules were detected by their independent chemical decay. About 70% of the mRNA chains showed a relatively normal chemical lifetime. The other 30%, including both proximal and distal sequences, produced little if any functional proteins, but was 3.5-fold more stable than trp mRNA in the parental strain. Thus, the rate of breakdown of a segment of an mRNA in growing cells is not simply determined by its sequence of nucleotides. Extensive pleiotropic effects accompanied the stabilization of the mRNA. The levels of trp mRNA species were lower than in the parental strain; and total and trp mRNA showed a fraction of relatively short chains.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blundell, M., Craig, E., Kennell, D.: Decay rates of different mRNA in E. coli and models of decay. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 238, 46–49 (1972)
Craig, E.: Messenger RNA metabolism when translocation is blocked. Genetics 70, 331–334 (1972)
Craig, E., Cremer, K., Schlessinger, D.: Metabolism of T4 messenger RNA, host messenger RNA and ribosomal RNA in T4-infected Escherichia coli B. J. molec. Biol. 71, 701–715 (1972)
Dunn, J. J., Studier, F. W.: T7 early RNA's and E. coli ribosomal RNA's are cut from large precursor RNA's in vivo by RNase III. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci (Wash.) 70, 1559–1562 (1973)
Fan, D. P., Higa, A., Levinthal, C.: Messenger RNA decay and protection. J. molec. Biol. 8, 210–222 (1964)
Forchhammer, J., Jackson, E. N., Yanofsky, C.: Different half-lives of messenger RNA corresponding to different segments of the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli. J. molec. Biol. 71, 687–699 (1972)
Gesteland, R. E.: Isolation and characterization of ribonuclease I mutants of Escherichia coli. J. molec. Biol. 18, 356–371 (1966)
Hogness, D. S., Cohn, M., Monod, J.: Studies of the induced synthesis of β-galactosidase in Escherichia coli: the kinetics and mechanism of sulfur incorporation. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 16, 99–116 (1955)
Imamoto, F.: Intragenic initiations of transcription of the tryptophan operon in Escherichia coli following dinitrophenol treatment without tryptophan J. molec. Biol. 43, 51–69 (1969)
Imamoto, F., Kano, Y.: Inhibition of transcription of the tryptophan operon in Escherichia coli by a block in initiation of translation. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 232, 169–193 (1971)
Imamoto, F., Tani, S.: Diversity of regulation of genetic transcription. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 240, 172–175 (1972)
Imamoto, F., Yanofsky, C.: Transcription of the tryptophan operon in polarity mutants of Escherichia coli. J. molec. Biol. 28, 25–35 (1967)
Kennell, D., Kotoulas, A.: Titration of the gene sites on DNA by DNA-RNA hybridization. J. molec. Biol. 34, 71–84 (1968)
Kindler, P., Keil, T. U., Hofschneider, P. H.: Isolation and characterization of a ribonuclease III deficient mutant of Escherichia coli. Mol. gen. Genet. 126, 53–69 (1973)
Mangiarotti, G., Schlessinger, D., Kuwano, M.: Initiation of ribosome-dependent breakdown of T4-specific messenger RNA. J. molec. Biol. 60, 411–452 (1971)
Marrs, B. L., Yanofsky, C.: Host and bacteriophage specific messenger RNA degradation in T7-infected Escherichia coli. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 234, 168–170 (1971)
Morse, D. E.: Polarity induced by chloramphenicol and relief by suA. J. molec. Biol. 55, 113–118 (1971)
Morse, D. E., Mosteller, R. D., Yanofsky, C.: Dynamics of synthesis, translation and degradation of trp operon messenger RNA in E. coli. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 34, 725–740 (1969)
Mosteller, R. D., Rose, T. K., Yanofsky, C.: Transcription and degradation of trp mRNA. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 35, 461–466 (1970)
Nierlich, D. P.: Regulation of ribonucleic acid synthesis in growing bacterial cells. J. molec. Biol. 72, 765–777 (1972).
Nikolaev, N., Silengo, L., Schlessinger, D.: Synthesis of a large precursor to ribosomal RNA in a mutant of Escherichia coli. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 70, 3361–3365 (1973)
Nikolaev, N., Silengo, L., Schlessinger, D.: Arole for ribonuclease III in processing of ribosomal ribonucleic acid and messenger ribonucleic acid precursors in Escherichia coli. J. biol. Chem. 248, 7967–7969 (1973)
Pato, M. L., von Meyenburg, K.: Residual RNA synthesis in Escherichia coli after inhibition of initiation of transcription by rifampicin. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 35, 497–504 (1970)
Summers, W. C.: The process of infection with coliphage T7. J. molec. Biol. 51, 671–678 (1970)
Tani, S., Imamoto, F.: Diversity of regulation of genetic transcription. II. Differential sensitivity to antibiotics of trp mRNA synthesis originating at the trp promoter and the λ promoter. J. molec. Biol., submitted (1974)
Yamamoto, T., Imamoto, F.: Differential stability of trp mRNA synthesized originating at trp promotor and PL promoter of λ trp. J. molec. Biol., submitted (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by H. Ozeki
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Silengo, L., Nikolaev, N., Schlessinger, D. et al. Stabilization of mRNA with polar effects in an Escherichia coli mutant. Molec. gen. Genet. 134, 7–19 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332808
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332808