The CGA codon decoding through tRNAArg(ICG) supply governed by Tad2/Tad3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

The CGA codon is a rare codon in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is known to be inefficiently decoded by wobble pairing with Arg-tRNA(ICG). The tRNAArg(ICG) is post-transcriptionally edited from tRNAArg(ACG) by the anticodon first adenosine deamination enzyme Tad2/Tad3 complex. Experimental consecutive CGA codons cause ribosome stalling to result in the reduction of the encoding protein product. In this study, the additional supply of tRNAArg(ACG) genes that produce decoding Arg-tRNA(ICG) promoted the product level from the CGA12-luc reporter, revealing that the product reduction is essentially due to inefficient decoding and deficiency in the tRNA supply. The mature tRNAArg(ICG) and the precursor tRNAArg(ACG) ratios examined for cellular tRNA fraction revealed that the tRNAArg(ICG) ratio is maintained at less than 30% and is responsive to the Tad2/Tad3 expression level.