Biomaterial Database

Mutations that convert the four leucine codons of the Salmonella typhimurium leu leader to four threonine codons. 1985

P W Carter, and D L Weiss, and H L Weith, and J M Calvo

In Salmonella typhimurium, expression of the leucine operon is regulated by a transcription attenuation mechanism. According to a current model of attenuation, elevated expression of this operon requires that a ribosome stall at one of four adjacent codons for leucine on a leader RNA. We used oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis to convert the four leucine codons of the S. typhimurium leu leader to four threonine codons. Analysis of the resulting mutant operon showed that almost all regulation by leucine had been abolished. The mutant operon was, instead, partially derepressed by a limitation for charged threonine tRNA. These results provide direct evidence for the function for the four leucine codons postulated by the attenuator model. An unexpected observation made during these studies was that the wild-type leu operon was partially derepressed by starvation for threonine.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007930	Leucine	An essential branched-chain amino acid important for hemoglobin formation.	L-Leucine,Leucine, L-Isomer,L-Isomer Leucine,Leucine, L Isomer
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
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
D003062	Codon	A set of three nucleotides in a protein coding sequence that specifies individual amino acids or a termination signal (CODON, TERMINATOR). Most codons are universal, but some organisms do not produce the transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER) complementary to all codons. These codons are referred to as unassigned codons (CODONS, NONSENSE).	Codon, Sense,Sense Codon,Codons,Codons, Sense,Sense Codons
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D012346	RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl	Intermediates in protein biosynthesis. The compounds are formed from amino acids, ATP and transfer RNA, a reaction catalyzed by aminoacyl tRNA synthetase. They are key compounds in the genetic translation process.	Amino Acyl tRNA,Transfer RNA, Amino Acyl,tRNA-Amino Acyl,Amino Acyl T RNA,Acyl tRNA, Amino,Acyl, tRNA-Amino,tRNA Amino Acyl,tRNA, Amino Acyl
D012486	Salmonella typhimurium	A serotype of Salmonella enterica that is a frequent agent of Salmonella gastroenteritis in humans. It also causes PARATYPHOID FEVER.	Salmonella typhimurium LT2
D013912	Threonine	An essential amino acid occurring naturally in the L-form, which is the active form. It is found in eggs, milk, gelatin, and other proteins.	L-Threonine,L Threonine