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. 1990 May;9(5):1383–1389. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1990.tb08253.x

The optional E. coli prr locus encodes a latent form of phage T4-induced anticodon nuclease.

R Levitz 1, D Chapman 1, M Amitsur 1, R Green 1, L Snyder 1, G Kaufmann 1
PMCID: PMC551823  PMID: 1691706

Abstract

The optional Escherichia coli prr locus restricts phage T4 mutants lacking polynucleotide kinase or RNA ligase. Underlying this restriction is the specific manifestation of the T4-induced anticodon nuclease, an enzyme which triggers the cleavage-ligation of the host tRNALys. We report here the molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence and mutational analysis of prr-associated DNA. The results indicate that prr encodes a latent form of anticodon nuclease consisting of a core enzyme and cognate masking agents. They suggest that the T4-encoded factors of anticodon nuclease counteract the prr-encoded masking agents, thus activating the latent enzyme. The encoding of a tRNA cleavage-ligation pathway by two separate genetic systems which cohabitate E. coli may provide a clue to the evolution of RNA splicing mechanisms mediated by proteins.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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