A nutrient-driven tRNA modification alters translational fidelity and genome-wide protein coding across an animal genus.

ABSTRACT: Natural selection favors efficient expression of encoded proteins, but the causes, mechanisms, and fitness consequences of evolved coding changes remain an area of aggressive inquiry. We report a large-scale reversal in the relative translational accuracy of codons across 12 fly species in the Drosophila/Sophophora genus. Because the reversal involves pairs of codons that are read by the same genomically encoded tRNAs, we hypothesize, and show by direct measurement, that a tRNA anticodon modification from guanosine to queuosine has coevolved with these genomic changes. Queuosine modification is present in most organisms but its function remains unclear. Modification levels vary across developmental stages in D. melanogaster, and, consistent with a causal effect, genes maximally expressed a

SUBMITTER: Zaborske JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4260829 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature