Abstract
While ribosomes must maintain translational reading frame in order to translate primary genetic information into polypeptides, cisโacting signals located in mRNAs represent higher order information content that can be used to fineโtune gene expression. Classes of signals have been identified that direct a fraction of elongating ribosomes to shift reading frame by one base in the 5โฒ (โ1) or 3โฒ (+1) direction. This is called programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF). Although mechanisms of PRF differ, a common feature is induction of ribosome pausing, which alters kinetic partitioning rates between inโframe and outโofโframe codons at specific โslipperyโ sequences. Many viruses use PRF to ensure synthesis of the correct ratios of virusโencoded proteins required for proper viral particle assembly and maturation, thus identifying PRF as an attractive target for antiviral therapeutics. In contrast, recent studies indicate that PRF signals may primarily function as mRNA destabilizing elements in cellular mRNAs. These studies suggest that PRF may be used to fineโtune gene expression through mRNA decay pathways. The possible regulation of PRF by noncoding RNAs is also discussed. WIREs RNA 2012 doi: 10.1002/wrna.1126
This article is categorized under:
RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems
RNA Evolution and Genomics > Computational Analyses of RNA
Translation > Translation Regulation