title: Dual translational initiation sites control function of the lambda S gene.
abstract: Lysis gene S of phage lambda has a 107 codon reading frame beginning with the codons Met1-Lys2-Met3. Genetic data have suggested that translational initiation occurs at both Met1 and Met3, generating two polypeptides, S107 and S105 respectively. We have proposed a model in which the proper scheduling of lysis depends on the partition of translational initiations between the two start codons. Here, using in vitro methods, we show that two stem-loop structures, one immediately upstream of the reading frame and a second approximately 10 codons within the gene, control the partitioning event. Utilizing primer-extension inhibition or 'toeprinting', we show that the two S start codons are served by two adjacent Shine-Dalgarno sequences. Moreover, the timing of lysis supported by the wild-type and a number of mutant alleles in vivo can be correlated with the ratio of ternary complex formation over Met1 and Met3 in vitro. Thus the regulation of the S gene is unique in that the products of two adjacent in-frame initiation events have opposing function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A and M University, College Station 77843.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bläsi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hartz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D001433:Bacteriolysis / Q000235:genetics*; D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003062:Codon; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012260:Ribonucleases