Cotranslational control of DNA transposition: a window of opportunity.

Laboratoire de Microbiologie et Génétique Moléculaires, CNRS UMR5100, Campus Université Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, F31062 Toulouse Cedex, France.

Molecular cell 2011 Dec 23

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Transposable elements are important in genome dynamics and evolution. Bacterial insertion sequences (IS) constitute a major group in number and impact. Understanding their role in shaping genomes requires knowledge of how their transposition activity is regulated and interfaced with the host cell. One IS regulatory phenomenon is a preference of their transposases (Tpases) for action on the element from which they are expressed (cis) rather than on other copies of the same element (trans). Using IS911, we show in vivo that activity in cis was ~200 fold higher than in trans. We also demonstrate that a translational frameshifting pause signal influences cis preference presumably by facilitating sequential folding and cotranslational binding of the Tpase. In vitro, IS911 Tpase bound IS ends during translation but not after complete translation. Cotranslational binding of nascent Tpase permits tight control of IS proliferation providing a mechanistic explanation for cis regulation of transposition involving an unexpected partner, the ribosome. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Guy Duval-Valentin, Michael Chandler. Cotranslational control of DNA transposition: a window of opportunity. Molecular cell. 2011 Dec 23;44(6):989-96