ISSN:
1365-2958
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
In Escherichia coli, 5′-terminal stem–loops form major impediments to mRNA decay, yet conditions that determine their effectiveness or the use of alternative decay pathway(s) are unclear. A synthetic 5′-terminal hairpin stabilizes the rpsT mRNA sixfold. This stabilization is dependent on efficient translational initiation and ribosome transit through at least two-thirds of the coding sequence past a major RNase E cleavage site in the rpsT mRNA. Insertion of a 12–15 residue ‘ectopic’ RNase E cleavage site from either the rne leader or 9S pre-rRNA into the 5′-non-coding region of the rpsT mRNA significantly reduces the stabilizing effect of the terminal stem–loop, dependent on RNase E. A similar insertion into the rpsT coding sequence is partially destabilizing. These findings demonstrate that RNase E can bypass an interaction with the 5′-terminus, and exploit an alternative ‘internal entry’ pathway. We propose a model for degradation of the rpsT mRNA, which explains the hierarchy of protection afforded by different 5′-termini, the use of internal entry for bypass of barriers to decay, ‘ectopic sites’ and the role of translating ribosomes.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03292.x
