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. 1987 Dec 20;6(13):4235–4239. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1987.tb02772.x

Mutants of elongation factor Tu promote ribosomal frameshifting and nonsense readthrough.

D Hughes 1, J F Atkins 1, S Thompson 1
PMCID: PMC553909  PMID: 3327691

Abstract

This is the first report of ribosomal frameshifting promoted by mutants of the elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu). EF-Tu mutants can suppress both -1 and +1 frameshift mutations. The level of nonsense readthrough is also increased at some UGA (this paper) and UAG (Hughes, 1987) sites by these mutants. Suppression occurs when a mutant tuf allele is paired with a wild-type copy of the other tuf gene but is most efficient when both tuf genes are mutant. Frameshifting mediated by the tuf alleles studied, tufA8 and tufB103, is not general; indeed most frameshift mutations are not suppressed. Several possible mechanisms by which mutant EF-Tu may cause frameshifting are discussed.

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Selected References

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