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Transcriptional control via translational repression by c4 antisense RNA of bacteriophages P1 and P7

A L Biere1, M Citron, H Schuster

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Berlin, Germany.

Genes & Development
|December 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophage P1 and P7 c4 repressors are antisense RNAs controlling antirepressor synthesis. They indirectly regulate ant gene expression through translational repression and rho-dependent termination.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • Bacteriophage P1 and P7 utilize c4 repressors, which are antisense RNAs, to regulate antirepressor synthesis.
  • The c4 repressor and repressed genes (orfx and ant) are unusually cotranscribed from a single promoter, with c4 RNA being processed from a precursor.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism by which c4 RNA controls the expression of the ant gene.
  • To investigate the role of translational coupling and rho-dependent termination in c4-mediated gene regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Investigating the direct interaction between c4 RNA and orfx mRNA.
  • Analyzing the translational coupling between orfx and ant.
  • Assessing the impact of translational repression on rho-dependent termination of ant transcription.

Main Results:

  • c4 RNA directly represses the translation of orfx, a small open reading frame.
  • The ant gene is translationally coupled to orfx, meaning its translation is dependent on orfx translation.
  • Repression of orfx translation leads to the blockage of ant transcription through a rho-dependent terminator.

Conclusions:

  • c4 RNA employs a novel indirect mechanism to control ant gene expression.
  • This mechanism integrates translational repression of orfx, translational coupling to ant, and rho-dependent termination.
  • This regulatory strategy provides insights into the complex gene expression control in bacteriophages.

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