O'Sullivan, J.M. and Mihr, M.J. and Santos, M.A. and Tuite, M.F. (2001) The Candida Albicans Gene Encoding the Cytoplasmic Leucyl-tRNA Synthetase: Implications for the Evolution of CUG Codon Reassignment. Gene, 275 (1). pp. 133-140. ISSN 0378-1119.
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| Official URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1119(01)00632-1 |
Abstract
In a number of Candida species the 'universal' leucine codon CUG is decoded as serine. To help understand the evolution of such a codon reassignment we have analyzed the Candida albicans leucyl-tRNA synthetase (CaLeuRS) gene (CaCDC60). The predicted CaLeuRS sequence shows a significant level of amino acid identity to LeuRS from other organisms. A mitochondrial LeuRS (ScNAM2) homologue, which shared low identity with the CaLeuRS, was also identified in C. albicans. Antigenically-related LeuRSs were identified in a range of Candida species decoding the CUG codon as both serine and leucine, using an antibody raised against the N-terminal 15 amino acids of the CaLeuRS. Complementation experiments demonstrated that the CaLeuRS was able to functionally complement a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cdc60:kanMX null mutation. We conclude that there is no alteration in tRNA recognition and aminoacylation by the C. albicans LeuRS, which argues against it having a role in codon reassignment. The nucleotide sequences of the CaCDC60 and CaNAM2 genes were deposited at GenBank under Accession numbers AF293346 and AF352020, respectively.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional information: | 0378-1119 (Print) Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
| Uncontrolled keywords: | Amino Acid Sequence Candida albicans/enzymology/*genetics Cloning, Molecular Codon/genetics Cytoplasm/enzymology DNA, Fungal/chemistry/genetics Evolution, Molecular Genes, Fungal/genetics Genetic Code/genetics Genetic Complementation Test Leucine-tRNA Ligase/*genetics Molecular Sequence Data Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics Sequence Analysis, DNA Sequence Homology, Amino Acid |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QR Microbiology |
| Divisions: | Faculties > Science Technology and Medical Studies > School of Biosciences > Protein Science Group |
| Depositing User: | Mick Tuite |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Oct 2008 18:39 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Jan 2010 14:20 |
| Resource URI: | http://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/5465 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes) |
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