Escherichia coli ribosomal protein L4 stimulates transcription termination at a specific site in the leader of the S10 operon independent of L4-mediated inhibition of translation. 1990

J M Zengel, and L Lindahl
Department of Biology, University of Rochester, NY 14627.

Transcription of the 11-gene S10 operon of Escherichia coli is inhibited by excess ribosomal protein L4, the product of the third gene of the operon. Previous studies suggested that L4 regulates transcription by modulating the level of readthrough at an attenuator in the S10 leader. To understand better the molecular details of the transcriptional regulation, we have determined the site of L4-induced termination of transcription using a method that allows us to map the 5' and 3' ends of newly synthesized RNA. Our results indicate that L4 stimulates termination about 140 bases from the transcription start site. Thus, the termination point is more than 30 bases upstream from the most proximal structural gene of the S10 operon, and coincides with a string of U residues on the descending side of a terminator-like hairpin structure. Since L4 is also known to inhibit translation of the S10 operon, we have analyzed the role of translation control in the protein's regulation of transcription by deleting sequences downstream from the termination site, including bases involved in translation initiation of the proximal structural gene. We find that the first 150 bases of the S10 leader contain the information sufficient for L4-mediated attenuation control and, therefore, that L4 regulates transcription by a mechanisms that is independent of the protein's inhibition of translation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008969 Molecular Sequence Data Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories. Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D009690 Nucleic Acid Conformation The spatial arrangement of the atoms of a nucleic acid or polynucleotide that results in its characteristic 3-dimensional shape. DNA Conformation,RNA Conformation,Conformation, DNA,Conformation, Nucleic Acid,Conformation, RNA,Conformations, DNA,Conformations, Nucleic Acid,Conformations, RNA,DNA Conformations,Nucleic Acid Conformations,RNA Conformations
D009876 Operon In bacteria, a group of metabolically related genes, with a common promoter, whose transcription into a single polycistronic MESSENGER RNA is under the control of an OPERATOR REGION. Operons
D010957 Plasmids Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS. Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D011401 Promoter Regions, Genetic DNA sequences which are recognized (directly or indirectly) and bound by a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase during the initiation of transcription. Highly conserved sequences within the promoter include the Pribnow box in bacteria and the TATA BOX in eukaryotes. rRNA Promoter,Early Promoters, Genetic,Late Promoters, Genetic,Middle Promoters, Genetic,Promoter Regions,Promoter, Genetic,Promotor Regions,Promotor, Genetic,Pseudopromoter, Genetic,Early Promoter, Genetic,Genetic Late Promoter,Genetic Middle Promoters,Genetic Promoter,Genetic Promoter Region,Genetic Promoter Regions,Genetic Promoters,Genetic Promotor,Genetic Promotors,Genetic Pseudopromoter,Genetic Pseudopromoters,Late Promoter, Genetic,Middle Promoter, Genetic,Promoter Region,Promoter Region, Genetic,Promoter, Genetic Early,Promoter, rRNA,Promoters, Genetic,Promoters, Genetic Middle,Promoters, rRNA,Promotor Region,Promotors, Genetic,Pseudopromoters, Genetic,Region, Genetic Promoter,Region, Promoter,Region, Promotor,Regions, Genetic Promoter,Regions, Promoter,Regions, Promotor,rRNA Promoters
D003001 Cloning, Molecular The insertion of recombinant DNA molecules from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic sources into a replicating vehicle, such as a plasmid or virus vector, and the introduction of the resultant hybrid molecules into recipient cells without altering the viability of those cells. Molecular Cloning
D004926 Escherichia coli A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc. Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D005798 Genes, Bacterial The functional hereditary units of BACTERIA. Bacterial Gene,Bacterial Genes,Gene, Bacterial
D001483 Base Sequence The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence. DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA
D012269 Ribosomal Proteins Proteins found in ribosomes. They are believed to have a catalytic function in reconstituting biologically active ribosomal subunits. Proteins, Ribosomal,Ribosomal Protein,Protein, Ribosomal

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