The difference in the type of codon-anticodon base pairing at the ribosomal P-site is one of the determinants of the translational rate |
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Authors: | M Kato K Nishikawa M Uritani M Miyazaki S Takemura |
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Affiliation: | Department of Molecular Biology, School of Science, Nagoya University, Aichi. |
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Abstract: | By utilizing an enzymatically reconstructed tRNA variant containing an altered anticodon sequence, we have examined the different biochemical behavior of translation between the Watson-Crick type and the wobble type base pair interactions at the first anticodon position. We have found that the Watson-Crick type base pair has an advantage in translation in contrast to the wobble type base pair by comparing the efficiency of transpeptidation of native tRNA(Phe) (anticodon; GmAA) with its variant tRNA (anticodon; AAA) in the poly(U)-programmed ribosome system. Thomas et al. [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. (1988) 85, 4242-4246] showed that the wobble codon at the ribosomal A-site accepted its cognate tRNA less efficiently than the Watson-Crick base pairing codon. We report here that the wobble interaction at the ribosomal P-site also affected the rate of translation. This variable translational rate may be a mechanism of gene regulation through preferential codon usage. |
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