Translational Misreading: Mutations in Translation Elongation Factor 1alpha Differentially Affect Programmed Ribosomal Frameshifting and Drug Sensitivity

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

RNA

Publication Date

1997

Abstract

The translation elongation feactor 1alpha (EF-1alpha) catalyzes the critical step of delivering aminoacyl-tRNAs to the elongating ribosome. A series of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains containing mutant alleles of the TEF2 gene encoding EF-1alpha have phenotypes consistent with effects on cellular processes related to translation. These include (1) conditional growth defects, (2) antibiotic sensitivity or resistance, (3) altered +1 or -1 ribosomal frameshifting efficiencies, and (4) altered maintenance of the killer phenotype. Although all the mutant alleles were isolated as dominant +1 frameshift suppressors, the effects of these mutations on the cell are quite different when present as the only form of EF-1alpha. Allele-specific effects are observed with regard to their ability to alter the efficiency of programmed +1 frameshifting as opposed to programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting. The significantly altered efficiency of -1 frameshifting in strains containing the TEF2-4 and TEF2-9 mutant alleles further correlates with a reduced ability to maintain the killer phenotype and the M1 satellite virus of L-A, an in vivo assay of translational fidelity. In light of the proposed models regarding the different A- and P-site occupancy states required for +1 or -1 ribosomal frameshifting, these results aid analysis of interactions between EF-1alpha and the translational apparatus.

Comments

This article was originally published as Dinman, J.D. and Kinzy, T.G. (1997) Translational Misreading: Mutations in Translation Elongation Factor 1ï¡ Differentially Affect Programmed Ribosomal Frameshifting and Drug Sensitivity, RNA 3, 870-881. PMID: 9257646

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