title: The accuracy of Q beta RNA translation. 1. Errors during the synthesis of Q beta proteins by intact Escherichia coli cells.
abstract: The fidelity of Q beta RNA translation by intact Escherichia coli cells has been studied. After infection, host protein synthesis was eliminated by adding rifampicin and the radioactive, phage-specified, proteins separated by one or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Labelled histidine and tryptophan were incorporated into the phage coat protein, whose message does not specify these amino acids, at a frequency of 0.09-0.13 per molecule. Errors leading to a change in the pI of the coat protein occurred at a rate of 0.05 per molecule, while the coat protein UGA stop codon was misread 6.5% of the time. These error rates are similar to data in some recent publications but much higher than the canonical 3-4 X 10(-4). They further provide a reference point in vivo to which the translation of the same message by E. coli extracts can be compared.
mesh_terms: D002213:Capsid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D003062:Codon / Q000032:analysis; D003090:Coliphages / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D006639:Histidine / Q000378:metabolism; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D003062:Codon; C028696:Qbeta ribonucleic acid; D012367:RNA, Viral; C043366:coat protein, Bacteriophage Qbeta; D006639:Histidine; D014364:Tryptophan; D012293:Rifampin