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Versatile vectors to study recoding: conservation of rules between yeast and mammalian cells
G Stahl1, L Bidou, J P Rousset
1Institut de Génétique et Microbiologie, URA CNRS 1354, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France.
Nucleic Acids Research
|May 11, 1995
Summary
Recoding, or alternative genetic code reading, mechanisms are conserved between yeast and mammalian cells. This finding supports using yeast as a model to study viral and transposon recoding events in higher organisms.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Virology
Background:
- Gene expression in viruses and transposons often requires alternative genetic code reading, known as recoding.
- Recoding events include stop codon read-through and +1 or -1 frameshifting, influenced by specific mRNA sequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conservation of recoding rules between yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mammalian cells.
- To establish a versatile vector system for studying recoding in both yeast and mammalian systems.
Main Methods:
- Developed and assessed a versatile vector for studying recoding in yeast and mammalian cells.
- Analyzed the Ty1 transposon +1 frameshift site.
- Tested human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gag-pol junction (-1 frameshift) and tobacco mosaic virus replicase cistron (UAG read-through) sequences in both yeast and mouse cells.
Main Results:
- Both tested higher organism sequences directed high levels of recoding in yeast.
- Mutations in target sequences showed similar effects on recoding in yeast and mouse cells.
- Absence of the HIV-1 stem-loop stimulatory signal significantly decreased frameshifting.
Conclusions:
- Mechanisms of certain recoding events are conserved between lower (yeast) and higher (mammalian) eukaryotes.
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae serves as a valid model system for studying recoding on target sequences from higher organisms.