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A retrovirus-like strategy for expression of a fusion protein encoded by yeast transposon Ty1

Nature volume 313, pages 243–246 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Eukaryotic transposons such as the Ty element of yeast1 or the copia-like sequences of Drosophila2 show structural and functional similarities to both prokaryotic transposons3,4 and retroviral pro-viruses5–8, but the prokaryotic transposons and retroviral pro-viruses use markedly different expression strategies which yield products having entirely different functions3–5. To determine the phylogenetic relationship between eukaryotic transposons, prokaryotic transposons and retroviruses, we have sought to identify and characterize the proteins encoded by the yeast Ty element and to describe the strategies used to express these proteins. We show here that the yeast transposon produces a fusion protein by a specific frameshifting event that fuses two out-of-phase open reading frames (ORFs). The process is remarkably similar to that used by retroviruses such as Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) to produce Pr180gag–pol (ref 5, 9).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK

    Jane Mellor, Sandra M. Fulton, Melanie J. Dobson, Wilma Wilson, Susan M. Kingsman & Alan J. Kingsman

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  1. Jane Mellor
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  2. Sandra M. Fulton
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  3. Melanie J. Dobson
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  4. Wilma Wilson
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  5. Susan M. Kingsman
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  6. Alan J. Kingsman
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Mellor, J., Fulton, S., Dobson, M. et al. A retrovirus-like strategy for expression of a fusion protein encoded by yeast transposon Ty1. Nature 313, 243–246 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/313243a0

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