tRNA concentration fine tunes protein solubility

FEBS Lett. 2012 Sep 21;586(19):3336-40. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.07.012. Epub 2012 Jul 20.

Abstract

Clusters of codons pairing to low-abundance tRNAs synchronize the translation with co-translational folding of single domains in multidomain proteins. Although proven with some examples, the impact of the ribosomal speed on the folding and solubility on a global, cell-wide level remains elusive. Here we show that upregulation of three low-abundance tRNAs in Escherichia coli increased the aggregation propensity of several cellular proteins as a result of an accelerated elongation rate. Intriguingly, alterations in the concentration of the natural tRNA pool compromised the solubility of various chaperones consequently rendering the solubility of some chaperone-dependent proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Codon / genetics
  • Codon / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Chaperones / chemistry
  • Molecular Chaperones / genetics
  • Molecular Chaperones / metabolism
  • Peptide Chain Elongation, Translational
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Multimerization
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics
  • RNA, Transfer / metabolism*
  • Solubility
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Codon
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Transfer