Project description:FAM134B is a reticulon-homology domain (RHD)-containing protein that participates in membrane-shaping of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)8 13. It also functions as a mammalian ER-phagy receptor, mediating the fragmentation and selective degradation of ER sheets in multiple cell types8. However, little is known about the molecular and biophysical mechanisms that control and/or switch between these two FAM134B functions.
Project description:Stop codon recoding events give rise to longer proteins, which may alter the proteins function and thereby generate short-lasting phenotypic variability from a single gene.
In order to systematically assess the frequency and origin of recoding events, we designed a library of reporters. We introduced premature stop codons into mScarlet that enabled high-throughput quantification of protein synthesis termination errors in E.coli using fluorescent microscopy. We found that under stress conditions, stop codon recoding may occur as high as 80 percent of the time, depending on the genetic context, suggesting that evolution frequently samples stop codon recoding events. Targeted mass spectrometry and RNA-seq analyses showed that not only translational but also transcriptional errors contribute to stop codon recoding. The RNA polymerase is more likely to misincorporate a nucleotide at premature stop codons. Proteome-wide mass -spectrometry revealed that temperature regulates the expression of cryptic peptides generated by stop codon recoding in E.coli.
Overall, our findings suggest that the environment influences the accuracy of protein production which increases protein heterogeneity when the organisms need to adapt to new conditions.
Project description:A ELMSeq reporter cassette was created to monitor Dam levels by methylation, and introduced in the genome. The regions of 6 nt upstream and 6 nt downstream the stop codon were randomized to study their effect on gene expression. The ELMSeq reporter cassette was composed of: promoter - dam - random N6 - stop codon TAA - random N6 - spacer - 4xGATC. The amplicon was spanning the C-terminal region. The cassette was introduced in Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Project description:Stop codon readthrough (SCR) occurs when the ribosome miscodes at a stop codon. Such readthrough events can be therapeutically desirable when a premature termination codon (PTC) is found in a critical gene. To study SCR in vivo in a genome-wide manner, we treated mammalian cells with aminoglycosides and performed ribosome profiling. We find that in addition to stimulating readthrough of PTCs, aminoglycosides stimulate readthrough of normal termination codons (NTCs) genome-wide. Stop codon identity, the nucleotide following the stop codon, and the surrounding mRNA sequence context all influence the likelihood of SCR. In comparison to NTCs, downstream stop codons in 3′UTRs are recognized less efficiently by ribosomes, suggesting that targeting of critical stop codons for readthrough may be achievable without general disruption of translation termination. Finally, we find that G418 treatment globally alters gene expression with substantial effects on translation of histone genes, selenoprotein genes, and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AMD1).