Three Modifications in the D and T Arms of tRNA Influence Translation in Escherichia coli and Expression of Virulence Genes in Shigella flexneri

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The modified nucleosides 2′-O-methylguanosine, present at position 18 (Gm18), 5-methyluridine, present at position 54 (m5U54), and pseudouridine, present at position 55 (Ψ55), are located in the D and T arms of tRNAs and are close in space in the three-dimensional (3D) structure of this molecule in the bacterium Escherichia coli. The formation of these modified nucleosides is catalyzed by the products of genes trmH (Gm18), trmA (m5U54), and truB (Ψ55). The combination of trmH, trmA, and truB mutations resulting in lack of these three modifications reduced the growth rate, especially at high temperature. Moreover, the lack of three modified nucleotides in tRNA induced defects in the translation of certain codons, sensitivity to amino acid analog 3,4-dehydro-dl-proline, and an altered oxidation of some carbon compounds. The results are consistent with the suggestion that these modified nucleosides, two of which directly interact in the 3D structure of tRNA by forming a hydrogen bond between Ψ55 and Gm18, stabilize the structure of the tRNA. Moreover, lack of Ψ55 in tRNA of human pathogen Shigella flexneri leads to a reduced expression of several virulence-associated genes.

This publication has 74 references indexed in Scilit: