A third lineage with two-piece tmRNA.

ABSTRACT: tmRNA combines tRNA and mRNA properties and helps bacteria to cope with stalled ribosomes. Its termini normally pair in the tRNA domain, closing the mRNA portion into a looping domain. A striking variation is a two-piece form that effectively breaks open the mRNA domain loop, resulting from independent gene permutation events in alphaproteobacteria and cyanobacteria. Convergent evolution to a similar form in separate bacterial lineages suggests that loop-opening benefits tmRNA function. This argument is strengthened by the discovery of a third bacterial lineage with a loop-opened two-piece tmRNA. Whereas most betaproteobacteria have one-piece tmRNA, a permuted tmRNA gene was found for Dechloromonas aromatica and close relatives. Correspondingly, two tmRNA pieces were identified, at approxi

SUBMITTER: Sharkady SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC516066 | biostudies-literature | 2004

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature