Trans-translation: the tmRNA-mediated surveillance mechanism for ribosome rescue, directed protein degradation, and nonstop mRNA decay
- PMID: 17397189
- DOI: 10.1021/bi6026055
Trans-translation: the tmRNA-mediated surveillance mechanism for ribosome rescue, directed protein degradation, and nonstop mRNA decay
Abstract
The accurate flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein is essential for all living organisms. An astonishing array of quality-assurance mechanisms have evolved to ensure that high degree of fidelity is maintained at every stage of this process. One of the most fascinating quality-control mechanisms involves tmRNA, also known as SsrA or 10Sa RNA. tmRNA is a versatile and highly conserved bacterial molecule endowed with the combined structural and functional properties of both a tRNA and a mRNA. The tmRNA system orchestrates three key biological functions: (1) recognition and rescue of ribosomes stalled on aberrant mRNAs, (2) disposal of the causative defective mRNAs, and (3) addition of a degradation tag to ribosome-associated protein fragments for directed proteolysis. Although not essential in Escherichia coli, tmRNA activity is essential for bacterial survival under adverse conditions and for virulence in some, and perhaps all, pathogenic bacteria. Recent evidence suggests that in addition to its quality-control function the tmRNA system might also play a key regulatory role in certain physiological pathways. This review will focus on recent advances in our understanding of the structural properties, mechanistic details, and physiological significance of this unique RNA and its principal protein partners.
Similar articles
-
Studying tmRNA-mediated surveillance and nonstop mRNA decay.Methods Enzymol. 2008;447:329-58. doi: 10.1016/S0076-6879(08)02217-9. Methods Enzymol. 2008. PMID: 19161851
-
[Trans-translation: facts and hypothesis].Mol Biol (Mosk). 2010 Jul-Aug;44(4):563-72. Mol Biol (Mosk). 2010. PMID: 20873214 Review. Russian.
-
SsrA genes of streptomycetes and association of proteins to the tmRNA during development and cellular differentiation.Proteomics. 2008 Apr;8(7):1429-41. doi: 10.1002/pmic.200700560. Proteomics. 2008. PMID: 18306177
-
tmRNA and associated ligands: a puzzling relationship.Biochimie. 2005 Sep-Oct;87(9-10):897-903. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2005.03.014. Epub 2005 Apr 13. Biochimie. 2005. PMID: 16164997
-
The SsrA-SmpB system for protein tagging, directed degradation and ribosome rescue.Nat Struct Biol. 2000 Jun;7(6):449-55. doi: 10.1038/75843. Nat Struct Biol. 2000. PMID: 10881189 Review.
Cited by
-
The smpB-ssrA mutant of Yersinia pestis functions as a live attenuated vaccine to protect mice against pulmonary plague infection.Infect Immun. 2010 Mar;78(3):1284-93. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00976-09. Epub 2010 Jan 11. Infect Immun. 2010. PMID: 20065026 Free PMC article.
-
A Novel Method to Evaluate Ribosomal Performance in Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Systems.Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 24;7:46753. doi: 10.1038/srep46753. Sci Rep. 2017. PMID: 28436469 Free PMC article.
-
SmpB contributes to reading frame selection in the translation of transfer-messenger RNA.J Mol Biol. 2009 Aug 14;391(2):275-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.06.037. Epub 2009 Jun 21. J Mol Biol. 2009. PMID: 19540849 Free PMC article.
-
Functional SmpB-ribosome interactions require tmRNA.J Biol Chem. 2007 Nov 30;282(48):34779-86. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M707256200. Epub 2007 Oct 2. J Biol Chem. 2007. PMID: 17911096 Free PMC article.
-
Trans-translation in Helicobacter pylori: essentiality of ribosome rescue and requirement of protein tagging for stress resistance and competence.PLoS One. 2008;3(11):e3810. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003810. Epub 2008 Nov 26. PLoS One. 2008. PMID: 19043582 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Molecular Biology Databases