Resolution of the discrepancy between a gene translation — termination codon and the deduced sequence for release of the encoded polypeptide

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Abstract
The translation-termination codon of the synthetase gene of the RNA phage MS2 was determined by nucleotide sequencing and suppression studies in vitro, to be UAG. In 1 of the only 2 studies on the signals for polypeptide chain release at the end of genes, Capecchi and Klein deducd that the synthetase of an almost identical phage, R17, is released at UAA. Under certain conditions the synthetase is released at the UAG terminator, but this UAG is especially prone to read-through with resulting release at the downstream UAA codon. The possible significance of the UAG being in a context prone to leakiness is discussed but is unresolved.