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Nucleic Acids Research 2004 32(19):5954-5961; doi:10.1093/nar/gkh925
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Published online 8 November 2004

Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 32 No. 19 © Oxford University Press 2004; all rights reserved

Testing the conservation of the translational machinery over evolution in diverse environments: assaying Thermus thermophilus ribosomes and initiation factors in a coupled transcription–translation system from Escherichia coli

Jill Thompson* and Albert E. Dahlberg

Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 401 863 3652; Fax: +1 401 863 1182; Email: Jill_Rosemary_Thompson{at}brown.edu

Received August 24, 2004; Revised and Accepted October 19, 2004

Ribosomes from the extreme thermophile Thermus thermophilus are capable of translation in a coupled transcription–translation system derived from Escherichia coli. At 45°C, T.thermophilus ribosomes translate at ~25–30% of the maximal rate of E.coli ribosomes, and synthesize full-length protein. T.thermophilus and E.coli subunits can be combined to effect translation, with the spectrum of proteins produced depending upon the source of the 30S subunit. In this system, T.thermophilus ribosomes function in concert with E.coli translational factors and tRNAs, with elongation and release factors being supplied from the E.coli extract, and purified initiation factors (IFs) being added exogenously. Cloned and purified T.thermophilus IF1, IF2 and IF3 supported the synthesis of the same products in vitro as the E.coli factors, although the relative levels of some polypeptides were factor dependent. We conclude that, at least between these two phylogenetically distant species, translational factor function and subunit–subunit interactions are conserved. This functional compatibility is remarkable given the extreme and highly divergent environments to which these species have adapted.


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