Synonymous codon substitutions modulate transcription and translation of a divergent upstream gene by modulating antisense RNA production.

ABSTRACT: Synonymous codons were originally viewed as interchangeable, with no phenotypic consequences. However, substantial evidence has now demonstrated that synonymous substitutions can perturb a variety of gene expression and protein homeostasis mechanisms, including translational efficiency, translational fidelity, and cotranslational folding of the encoded protein. To date, most studies of synonymous codon-derived perturbations have focused on effects within a single gene. Here, we show that synonymous codon substitutions made far within the coding sequence of Escherichia coli plasmid-encoded chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) can significantly increase expression of the divergent upstream tetracycline resistance gene, tetR. In four out of nine synonymously recoded

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11388325 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature