Document Type
Article
Version Deposited
Published Version
Publication Date
5-3-2019
Publication Title
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
DOI
10.1074/jbc.RA118.005355
Abstract
The genes in mitochondrial DNA code for essential subunits of the respiratory chain complexes. In yeast, expression of mitochondrial genes is controlled by a group of gene-specific translational activators encoded in the nucleus. These factors appear to be part of a regulatory system that enables concerted expression of the necessary genes from both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes to produce functional respiratory complexes. Many of the translational activators are believed to act on the 5'-untranslated regions of target mRNAs, but the molecular mechanisms involved in this regulation remain obscure. In this study, we used a combination of in vivo and in vitro analyses to characterize the interactions of one of these translational activators, the pentatricopeptide repeat protein Pet111p, with its presumed target, COX2 mRNA, which encodes subunit II of cytochrome c oxidase. Using photoactivatable ribonucleoside-enhanced cross-linking and immunoprecipitation analysis, we found that Pet111p binds directly and specifically to a 5'-end proximal region of the COX2 transcript. Further, we applied in vitro RNase footprinting and mapped two binding targets of the protein, of which one is located in the 5'-untranslated leader and the other is within the coding sequence. Combined with the available genetic data, these results suggest a plausible mechanism of translational activation, in which binding of Pet111p may prevent inhibitory secondary structures from forming in the translation initiation region, thus rendering the mRNA available for interaction with the ribosome.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Julia L.; Hofmann, Katharina B.; Cowan, Andrew T.; Temiakov, Dmitry; Cramer, Patrick; & Anikin, Michael. Yeast mitochondrial protein Pet111p binds directly to two distinct targets in COX2 mRNA, suggesting a mechanism of translational activation. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2019, May 1. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA118.005355
Included in
Genetic Processes Commons, Genetic Structures Commons, Medical Cell Biology Commons, Molecular Genetics Commons
Comments
This research was originally published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Jones JL, Hofmann KB, Cowan AT, Temiakov D, Cramer P, Anikin M. Yeast mitochondrial protein Pet111p binds directly to two distinct targets in COX2 mRNA, suggesting a mechanism of translational activation. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2019 May 3;294(18):7528-7536. Epub 2019 Mar 25. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.005355. PMID: 30910813.
© the Author(s).