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Escherichia coli lac operator mRNA affects translation initiation of β-galactosidase mRNA

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Abstract

THE primary function of the start of a message (mRNA for a specific polypeptide) is to ensure the correct initiation of translation. Little is known about the factors determining the frequency of translation or indeed if its variability is important in the total expression of genes. Recently, an analysis was introduced that allows calculation of in vivo frequencies; it was shown that the in vivo initiation rates of the first and last messages of the lac mRNA differ by fivefold1. Different initiation frequencies could be effected, in part at least, by a sequence of three or more nucleotides about 8 to 15 residues upstream from the initiating AUG codon that is complementary to a purine-rich sequence at the end of the 16S ribosomal RNA2,3. Four such complementary nucleotides are residues 8–11 before the AUG start of the β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23, βGase) message. Mutants for this sequence are not available, but there is a whole series for a more distant region—22 to 34 nucleotides before the AUG: the lac Oc mutants. Here we show that certain of these mutations affect the rate of translation as well as the stability of this message.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University Medical School, St Louis, Missouri, 63110

    VINCENT J. CANNISTRARO & DAVID KENNELL

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  1. VINCENT J. CANNISTRARO
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  2. DAVID KENNELL
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CANNISTRARO, V., KENNELL, D. Escherichia coli lac operator mRNA affects translation initiation of β-galactosidase mRNA. Nature 277, 407–409 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/277407a0

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