The optimal eukaryotic signal for translation initiation from non-AUG codons, present upstream of bacteriophage lambda P cistron, is inactive in Escherichia coli.
Expression of the replication genes of bacteriophage lambda, O and P, is believed to be translationally coupled. However, it was previously noted that, under conditions of amino acid starvation, when O is not synthesized, P continues to be expressed at a relatively high level. The results presented in this report, contrary to the previously presented hypothesis, suggest that an AGACUGGAU sequence (an optimal context for translation initiation from non-AUG codons in eukaryotes, and present upstream the P cistron) is inactive in Escherichia coli. Comparative sequence analysis confirms that such a signal is unlikely to be important for P synthesis. Instead, a weak Shine-Dalgarno sequence may be present upstream the P cistron, and be active in the absence of O gene expression.
Wróbel
Borys
B
Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sw. Wojciecha 5, 81-347 Gdynia, Poland. wrobel@biotech.univ.gda.pl
Słomiński
Bartosz
B
Wegrzyn
Grzegorz
G
D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D018387:Codon, Initiator; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D018387:Codon, Initiator