Quantitative correlation between mRNA secondary structure around the region downstream of the initiation codon and translational efficiency in Escherichia coli.

Full Abstract

Translational efficiency in Escherichia coli is known to be strongly influenced by the secondary structure around the ribosome-binding site and the initiation codon in the translational-initiation region of the mRNA. Several quantitative studies have reported that translational efficiency is attributable to effects on ribosome accessibility predominantly caused by the secondary structure surrounding the ribosome-binding site. However, the influence of mRNA secondary structure around regions downstream of the initiation codon on translational efficiency after ribosome-binding step has not been quantitatively studied. Here, we quantitatively analyzed the relationship between secondary structure of mRNA surrounding the region downstream of the initiation codon, referred to as the downstream region (DR), and protein expression levels. Modified hairpin structures containing the initiation codon were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis, and their effects on expression were analyzed in vivo. The minimal folding free energy (DeltaG) of a local hairpin structure was found to be linearly correlated with the relative expression level over a range of fourfold change. These results demonstrate that expression level can be quantitatively controlled by changing the stability of the secondary structure surrounding the DR.

Author information

Author/s: Seo, Sang Woo (SW); Yang, Jina (J); Jung, Gyoo Yeol (GY);

Affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 790-784, Korea.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Biotechnology and bioengineering (Biotechnol Bioeng), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 104 (issue 3) : pp 611-6

Dates: Created 2009/08/31; Completed 2009/10/22;

PMID: 19579224, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/22/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.