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Mechanism of ribosome frameshifting during translation of the genetic code

Abstract

Some frameshift mutations are strongly suppressed by limitation for particular aminoacyl-tRNA species. Here, we show that ribosome frameshifting at a specific tryptophan codon during Trp-tRNA limitation accounts for suppression of a group of downstream frameshift alleles in the rIIB gene of bacteriophage T4. Genetic and physiological observations strongly suggest that ribosome frameshifting at this position depends on the binding of a noncognate (leucine) tRNA.

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Weiss, R., Gallant, J. Mechanism of ribosome frameshifting during translation of the genetic code. Nature 302, 389–393 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/302389a0

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