Unraveling the causes of adaptive benefits of synonymous mutations in TEM-1 β-lactamase.

ABSTRACT: While synonymous mutations were long thought to be without phenotypic consequences, there is growing evidence they can affect gene expression, protein folding, and ultimately the fitness of an organism. In only a few cases have the mechanisms by which synonymous mutations affect the phenotype been elucidated. We previously identified 48 mutations in TEM-1 β-lactamase that increased resistance of Escherichia coli to cefotaxime, 10 of which were synonymous. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of these synonymous mutations, we made a series of measurements for a panel containing the 10 synonymous together with 10 non-synonymous mutations as a reference. Whereas messenger levels were unaffected, we found that total and functional TEM protein levels we

SUBMITTER: Zwart MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6180035 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature