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PMID: 9447966 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Differential expression of individual suppressor tRNA(Trp) gene gene family members in vitro and in vivo in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Molecular and cellular biology ·Vol. 18 ·No. 2 ·1998-02-00 ·Pages 703-9

Li L, Linning RM, Kondo K, Honda BM

Abstract

Eight different amber suppressor tRNA (suptRNA) mutations in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have been isolated; all are derived from members of the tRNA(Trp) gene family (K. Kondo, B. Makovec, R. H. Waterston, and J. Hodgkin, J. Mol. Biol. 215:7-19, 1990). Genetic assays of suppressor activity suggested that individual tRNA genes were differentially expressed, probably in a tissue- or developmental stage-specific manner. We have now examined the expression of representative members of this gene family both in vitro, using transcription in embryonic cell extracts, and in vivo, by assaying suppression of an amber-mutated lacZ reporter gene in animals carrying different suptRNA mutations. Individual wild-type tRNA(Trp) genes and their amber-suppressing counterparts appear to be transcribed and processed identically in vitro, suggesting that the behavior of suptRNAs should reflect wild-type tRNA expression. The levels of transcription of different suptRNA genes closely parallel the extent of genetic suppression in vivo. The results suggest that differential expression of tRNA genes is most likely at the transcriptional rather than the posttranscriptional level and that 5' flanking sequences play a role in vitro, and probably in vivo as well. Using suppression of a lacZ(Am) reporter gene as a more direct assay of suptRNA activity in individual cell types, we have again observed differential expression which correlates with genetic and in vitro transcription results. This provides a model system to more extensively study the basis for differential expression of this tRNA gene family.

MeSH Terms
Alleles Animals Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics Gene Expression Genes, Reporter/genetics Lac Operon/genetics Mutagenesis, Site-Directed RNA, Transfer, Trp/genetics Suppression, Genetic Transcription, Genetic
Chemicals
RNA, Transfer, Trp
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Li L
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
Linning R M
Kondo K
Honda B M
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Article Info
Journal
Molecular and cellular biology
Abbr.
Mol Cell Biol
ISSN
0270-7306
DOI
10.1128/MCB.18.2.703
Published
1998-02-00
Pages
703-9
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
8109087
PMCID
PMC108781
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1128/MCB.18.2.703 PMC Full Text View journal details
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