Spermidine deficiency increases +1 ribosomal frameshifting efficiency and inhibits Ty1 retrotransposition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Polyamines have been implicated in nucleic acid-related functions and in protein biosynthesis. RNA sequences that specifically direct ribosomes to shift reading frame in the -1 and +1 directions may be used to probe the mechanisms controlling translational fidelity. We examined the effects of spermidine on translational fidelity by an in vivo assay in which changes in beta-galactosidase activity are dependent on yeast retrovirus Ty +1 and yeast double-stranded RNA virus L-A -1 ribosomal frameshifting signals. In spe2 delta mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which cannot make spermidine as a result of a deletion in the SPE2 gene, there is a marked elevation in +1 but no change in -1 ribosomal frameshifting. The increase in +1 ribosomal frameshifting efficiency is accompanied by a striking decrease in Ty1 retrotransposition.
Balasundaram
D
D
Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Dinman
J D
JD
Wickner
R B
RB
Tabor
C W
CW
Tabor
H
H
D012437:Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase; D001483:Base Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D016153:Genes, Suppressor; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012347:RNA, Transfer, Arg; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013095:Spermidine / Q000502:physiology*
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012347:RNA, Transfer, Arg; D012437:Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase; D013095:Spermidine