University of Utah (201 Presidents Cir, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 - United States)
Abstract : Eubacterial tmRNAs mediate, at least in Escherichia coli, recycling of ribosomes stalled at the end of terminatorless mRNAs. A tmRNA-encoded peptide tag is added to abnormal protein products of truncated mRNAs. This tag is a specific signal for proteolysis of the aberrant protein. To obtain further sequence information, PCR was used to amplify more Eubacterial genes for tmRNA. Fifty-eight new tmDNA sequences including from members of nine additional phyla were determined. Remarkably, tmDNA sequences could be amplified from all species tested apart from those in the alpha-Proteobacteria, raising evolutionary implications.
Brice Felden, Raymond F. Gesteland, John F. Atkins. Eubacterial tmRNAs: everywhere except the alpha-proteobacteria?. BBA - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, Elsevier, 1999, 1446 (1-2), pp.145-8. ⟨10.1016/S0167-4781(99)00085-8⟩. ⟨inserm-00718479⟩