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. 1997 Apr;179(8):2587–2594. doi: 10.1128/jb.179.8.2587-2594.1997

Specificity of tRNA-mRNA interactions in Bacillus subtilis tyrS antitermination.

F J Grundy 1, S E Hodil 1, S M Rollins 1, T M Henkin 1
PMCID: PMC179008  PMID: 9098057

Abstract

The Bacillus subtilis tyrS gene, encoding tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, is a member of the T-box family of genes, which are regulated by control of readthrough of a leader region transcriptional terminator. Readthrough is induced by interaction of the cognate uncharged tRNA with the leader; the system responds to decreased tRNA charging, caused by amino acid limitation or insufficient levels of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Recognition of the cognate tRNA is mediated by pairing of the anticodon of the tRNA with the specifier sequence of the leader, a codon specifying the appropriate amino acid; a second interaction between the acceptor end of the tRNA and an antiterminator structure is also important. Certain switches of the specifier sequence to a new codon result in a switch in the specificity of the amino acid response, while other switches do not. These effects may reflect additional sequence or structural requirements for the mRNA-tRNA interaction. This study includes investigation of the effects of a large number of specifier sequence switches in tyrS and analysis of structural differences between tRNA(Tyr) and tRNA species which interact inefficiently with the tyrS leader to promote antitermination.

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Selected References

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