Open AccessA nuclease that cuts specifically in the ribosome binding site of some T4 mRNAs.
Author(s) -
Marc Uzan,
Renée Favre,
Edward N. Brody
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.85.23.8895
Subject(s) - nuclease , biology , shine dalgarno sequence , ribosome , ribosomal binding site , messenger rna , binding site , translation (biology) , bacteriophage , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , escherichia coli , rna , gene
We have identified a nucleolytic activity in Escherichia coli infected by bacteriophage T4 that introduces cuts in the ribosome binding site of at least two T4 mRNAs. Cutting takes place specifically in the GGAG sequences that are complementary to the 3' end of 16S rRNA (Shine-Dalgarno sequence). The nature of this nucleolytic cut has been investigated by reverse transcriptase mapping, anti-mRNA mapping, utilization of the vaccinia virus guanylyltransferase, and labeling by polynucleotide kinase. We have compared the sequences of target mRNAs with an mRNA of similar sequence but that is not a substrate for the nuclease. This allowed us to narrow down the possibilities for sequence elements that determine nuclease recognition. We hypothesize that this nuclease plays a physiological role in the inhibition of expression of a class of phage proteins.