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

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 tRNA(Arg)(ICG) is post-transcriptionally edited from tRNA(Arg)(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 tRNA(Arg)(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 tRNA(Arg)(ICG) and the precursor tRNA(Arg)(ACG) ratios examined for cellular tRNA fraction revealed that the tRNA(Arg)(ICG) ratio is maintained at less than 30% and is responsive to the Tad2/Tad3 expression level.

Automated summary

The CGA codon is inefficiently decoded in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by wobble pairing with Arg-tRNA(ICG). The tRNA(Arg)(ICG) is edited post-transcriptionally from tRNA(Arg)(ACG) by the Tad2/Tad3 complex. Ribosome stalling caused by consecutive CGA codons leads to a reduction in protein product. Increasing the supply of tRNA(Arg)(ACG) genes that produce decoding Arg-tRNA(ICG) can enhance the product level, indicating that the reduction in product is mainly due to inefficient decoding and deficiency in tRNA supply. The ratio of mature tRNA(Arg)(ICG) to precursor tRNA(Arg)(ACG) is less than 30% and is responsive to the expression level of Tad2/Tad3.