Abstract
Repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequences are highly structured elements found downstream of ~500 genes in Escherichia coli that result in extensive stem-loop structures in their mRNAs. However, their physiological role has remained elusive. Here, we show that REP sequences can downregulate translation, but only if they are within 15 nt of a termination codon; a spacing of 16 nt has no effect, suggesting that the REP element acts to stall ribosome movement. Ribosome stalling leads to cleavage of the mRNA and induction of the trans-translation process. Using nrdAB as a model, we find that its regulation can be partially reversed by overexpression ofRNA helicases and can be fully overcome upon UV stress, emphasizing the importance of this regulatory process. Since 50% of REP-associated genes have these elements within the critical 15 nt, these findings identify a regulatory mechanism with the potential to affect translation from a large number of genes.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 431-439 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Molecular Cell |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 7 2015 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Cite this
A Role for REP sequences in regulating translation. / Liang, Wenxing; Rudd, Kenneth E.; Deutscher, Murray P.
In: Molecular Cell, Vol. 58, No. 3, 07.05.2015, p. 431-439.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A Role for REP sequences in regulating translation
AU - Liang, Wenxing
AU - Rudd, Kenneth E.
AU - Deutscher, Murray P
PY - 2015/5/7
Y1 - 2015/5/7
N2 - Repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequences are highly structured elements found downstream of ~500 genes in Escherichia coli that result in extensive stem-loop structures in their mRNAs. However, their physiological role has remained elusive. Here, we show that REP sequences can downregulate translation, but only if they are within 15 nt of a termination codon; a spacing of 16 nt has no effect, suggesting that the REP element acts to stall ribosome movement. Ribosome stalling leads to cleavage of the mRNA and induction of the trans-translation process. Using nrdAB as a model, we find that its regulation can be partially reversed by overexpression ofRNA helicases and can be fully overcome upon UV stress, emphasizing the importance of this regulatory process. Since 50% of REP-associated genes have these elements within the critical 15 nt, these findings identify a regulatory mechanism with the potential to affect translation from a large number of genes.
AB - Repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequences are highly structured elements found downstream of ~500 genes in Escherichia coli that result in extensive stem-loop structures in their mRNAs. However, their physiological role has remained elusive. Here, we show that REP sequences can downregulate translation, but only if they are within 15 nt of a termination codon; a spacing of 16 nt has no effect, suggesting that the REP element acts to stall ribosome movement. Ribosome stalling leads to cleavage of the mRNA and induction of the trans-translation process. Using nrdAB as a model, we find that its regulation can be partially reversed by overexpression ofRNA helicases and can be fully overcome upon UV stress, emphasizing the importance of this regulatory process. Since 50% of REP-associated genes have these elements within the critical 15 nt, these findings identify a regulatory mechanism with the potential to affect translation from a large number of genes.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.molcel.2015.03.019
DO - 10.1016/j.molcel.2015.03.019
M3 - Article
VL - 58
SP - 431
EP - 439
JO - Molecular Cell
JF - Molecular Cell
SN - 1097-2765
IS - 3
ER -