Abstract
Certain polycistronic prokaryotic mRNAs, when modified at their 5′-termini with a cap structure, are translated as efficiently as, or more efficiently than eukaryotic mRNAs in a eukaryotic cell-free protein synthesising system. However, in this case efficient cap-dependent translation is apparently restricted to the 5′-proximal coding sequence. Moreover, certain translational regulatory signals potentially used by these prokaryotic mRNAs to regulate their levels of expression seem to be recognised by the eukaryotic translational components. The evolutionary significance and practical implications of these results are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Paterson, B. M. & Rosenberg, M. Nature 279, 692–696 (1979).
Roberts, J. W. Nature 224, 1168–1174 (1969).
Roberts, J. W. Cold Spring Harb. Symp. quant Biol. 35, 121–126 (1970).
Rosenberg, M., de Crombrugghe, B. & Weissman, S. J. biol. Chem. 250, 4755–4764 (1975).
Rosenberg, M., Court, D., Shimatake, H., Brady, C. & Wulff, D. Nature 272, 414–423 (1978).
Pereira da Silva, L. & Jacob, F. Annls Inst. Pasteur 115, 145 (1968).
Allet, B. & Solem, R. J. molec. Biol. 85, 475–484 (1974).
Reichardt, L. F. J. molec. Biol. 93, 267–288 (1975).
Schwarz, E., Scherer, G., Hobom, G. & Kossel, H. Nature 272, 410–414 (1978).
Lathe, R. & Lecocq, J. P. Virology 83, 204–206 (1977).
Echols, H., Reznichek, J. & Adhya, S. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 50, 286–293 (1963).
Shapiro, J. A. & Adhya, S. L. Genetics 62, 249–264 (1969).
Musso, R., DiLauro, R., Rosenberg, M. & de Crombrugghe, B. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 106–110 (1977).
Musso, R., DiLauro, R., Adhya, S. & de Crombrugghe, B. Cell 12, 847–854 (1977).
Nakanishi, S., Adhya, S., Gottesman, M. & Pastan, I. J. biol. Chem. 249, 4050–4056 (1974).
Musso, R. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71, 4940–4944 (1974).
Anderson, C. W., Atkins, J. F. & Dunn, J. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 2752–2756 (1976).
Aviv, H., Boime, I., Loyd, B. & Leder, P. Science 178, 1293–1295 (1972).
Wang, S., Marcu, K. B. & Inouye, M. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 68, 1194–1200 (1976).
Davies, J. W. & Kaesberg, P. J. Virol. 12, 1434–1441 (1973).
Schreier, M. H., Staehelin, T., Gesteland, R. F. & Spahr, P. F. J. molec. Biol. 75, 575–578 (1973).
Morrison, T. G. & Lodish, H. F. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 70, 315–319 (1973).
Beck, O. E. & Gassen, H. G. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 74, 16–24 (1977).
Shine, J. & Dalgarno, L. Nature 254, 34–38 (1975).
Hagenbuckle, O., Santer, M., Steitz, J. A. & Mans, R. J. Cell 13, 551–563 (1978).
Baralle, F. E. Cell 12, 1085–1095 (1977).
Baralle, F. E. & Brownlee, G. G. Nature 274, 84–87 (1978).
Steitz, J. A. & Jakes, K. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 72, 4734–4738 (1975).
Rosenberg, M., Kramer, R. & Steitz, J. A. J. molec. Biol. 89, 777–782 (1974).
Cory, S. & Adam, J. M. J. molec. Biol. 99, 519–547 (1975).
Steege, D. A. J. molec. Biol., 114, 559–568 (1977).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rosenberg, M., Paterson, B. Efficient cap-dependent translation of polycistronic prokaryotic mRNAs is restricted to the first gene in the operon. Nature 279, 696–701 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/279696a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/279696a0
This article is cited by
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.