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. 1994 Feb;176(4):992–998. doi: 10.1128/jb.176.4.992-998.1994

Influence of translational efficiency on the stability of the mRNA for ribosomal protein S20 in Escherichia coli.

L R Rapaport 1, G A Mackie 1
PMCID: PMC205149  PMID: 8106342

Abstract

A set of plasmids was constructed so as to contain point mutations which limit the efficiency and/or extent of translation of the gene for ribosomal protein S20. These plasmids were transformed into strains carrying mutations in the genes for polynucleotide phosphorylase (pnp-7), RNase E (rne-1), or both. Subsequently, the effect of translational efficiency on mRNA abundance and chemical half-life was determined. The data indicated that mutations altering translational efficiency also affected mRNA levels over a 10-fold range. This variation in mRNA abundance occurred independently of mutations in either RNase E or polynucleotide phosphorylase, both of which determine the stability of the S20 mRNAs. Moreover, a mutation at codon 15 which caused premature termination of translation of the S20 mRNA did not significantly reduce its stability in different genetic backgrounds. We propose a model in which initiation of translation competes for early steps in mRNA turnover, which could be the binding of RNase E itself or as a complex to one or more sites near the 5' terminus of the S20 mRNA.

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Selected References

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