title: Differential gene expression from the Escherichia coli atp operon mediated by segmental differences in mRNA stability.
abstract: The atp operon of Escherichia coli directs synthesis rates of protein subunits that are well matched to the requirements of assembly of the membrane-bound H(+)-ATPase (alpha 3 beta 3 gamma 1 delta 1 epsilon 1a1b2c10-15). Segmental differences in mRNA stability are shown to contribute to the differential control of atp gene expression. The first two genes of the operon, atpl and atpB, are rapidly inactivated at the mRNA level. The remaining seven genes are more stable. It has previously been established that the translational efficiencies of the atp genes vary greatly. Thus differential expression from this operon is achieved via post-transcriptional control exerted at two levels. Neither enhancement of translational efficiency nor insertion of repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequences into the atplB intercistronic region stabilized atpl. We discuss the implications of these results in terms of the pathway of mRNA degradation and of the role of mRNA stability in the control of gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gene Expression, GBF-Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung mbH, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerstel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Surin
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ziemke
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006207:Half-Life; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009876:Operon; D010957:Plasmids; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics*; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping
chemical_list: D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases