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The ompA 5′ untranslated region impedes a major pathway for mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Hansen Michael J.,
Chen LiHow,
Fejzo Mariena L. S.,
Beiasco Joel G.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1994.tb01058.x
Subject(s) - biology , five prime untranslated region , escherichia coli , untranslated region , messenger rna , rnase p , operon , translation (biology) , ribosome , ribosomal binding site , three prime untranslated region , heterologous , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , rna
Summary The unusual longevity of the Escherichia coli ompA transcript is determined by its 5′untranslated region (UTR), which functions In vivo as an mRNA stabilizer. Here we show that this 5′UTR can prolong the lifetime in E. coli of a variety of heterologous mRNAs to which it is Joined, either as a gene fusion or as an operon fusion. Statistical extrapolation suggests that it is quite likely that most E. coli mRNAs could be stabilized in this manner. We conclude that the ompA 5′ UTR impedes a major pathway for mRNA degradation in E. coli and that stabilization by fusion to this UTR does not require translational readthrough of the heterologous mRNA segment by ribosomes that initiate translation at the ompA ribosome‐binding site. Additional experiments indicate that the E. coli ribonuclease whose action is slowed by the ompA 5′ UTR is not RNase III.