Mathematical models are now gaining in importance for descriptions of biological processes. In this thesis, such models have been used to identify and analyze principles that govern bacterial protein synthesis under amino acid limitation. New techniques, that are generally applicable for analysis of intrinsic fluctuations in systems of chemical reactions, are also presented. It is shown how multi-substrate reactions, such as protein synthesis, may display zero order kinetics below saturation, because an increase in one substrate pool is compensated by a decrease in another, so that the overall flow is unchanged. Under those conditions, metabolite pools display hyper sensitivity and large fluctuations, unless metabolite synthesis is carefully regulated. It is demonstrated that flow coupling in protein synthesis has consequences for transcriptional control of amino acid biosynthetic operons, accuracy of mRNA translation and the stringent response. Flow coupling also determines the choices of synonymous codons in a number of cases. The reason is that tRNA isoacceptors, cognate to the same amino acid, often read different codons and become deacylated to very different degrees when their amino acid is limiting for protein synthesis. This was demonstrated theoretically and used to successfully predict the choices of control codons in ribosome mediated transcriptional attenuation and codon bias in stress response genes. New tools for the analysis of internal fluctuations have been forged, most importantly, an efficient Monte Carlo algorithm for simulation of the Markov-process corresponding to the reaction-diffusion master equation. The algorithm makes it feasible to analyze stochastic kinetics in spatially extended systems. It was used to demonstrate that bi-stable chemical systems can display spontaneous domain separation also in three spatial dimensions. This analysis reveals geometrical constraints on biochemical memory circuits built from bistable systems. Further, biochemical applications of the Fokker-Planck equation and the Linear Noise Approximation have been explored.

Animals survey their environment for relevant odorous chemical compounds by means of the olfactory system. This system is in most vertebrates divided into a main and accessory olfactory system with two specialized neuroepithelia, the olfactory and the vomeronasal epithelium, respectively. The sensory neurons reside in these epithelia and together the neurons have an extraordinary sensitivity and are capable of detecting a vast number of different chemical molecules. After processing the chemical information, behavior may be altered. The information about a chemicals structure is deconstructed into a format that the brain may process. This is facilitated by organizing sensory neurons into a map and that the individual neuron responds only to one chemical feature. The sensory maps appear to have zones with different neuronal subpopulations. This thesis is addressing the fact that establishment, maintenance and function of these zones are unknown. We identify a gene (NQO1) to be selectively expressed in defined zone of the olfactory and the vomeronasal epithelia, respectively. NQO1-positive and negative axons segregate within the olfactory nerve and maintain a zonal organization when reaching olfactory bulb target neurons. These results indicate that one zone of both the accessory and the main olfactory projection maps is composed of sensory neurons specialized in reducing environmental and/or endogenously produced quinones via an NQO1-dependent mechanism. In addition, we have identified genes expressed in a graded manner that correlates with the dorsomedial-ventrolateral zonal organization of the olfactory epithelia. Considering the known functions of identified genes in establishment of cell specificity and precise axonal targeting, we suggest that zonal division of the primary olfactory systems is maintained, during continuous neurogenesis, as a consequence of topographic counter gradients of positional information. The vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSN) are organized into an apical and a basal zone. The zones differ in expression of e.g. chemosensory receptor families and Gα protein subunits (Gαi2 and Gαo). We have analyzed transgenic mice (OMP-dnRAR) in which the VSNs are unresponsive to the function of one of the genes identified herein (RALDH2). The phenotype observed suggests that endogenous produced retinoic acid is selectively required for postnatal survival of neurons in the Gαo-positive zone. Analyses of another mouse line target deleted in the Gαi2 gene (Gαi2 mutant) reveal a cellular phenotype that is opposite to that of OMP-dnRAR mice. Consequently in these mice, the apical Gαi2-positive zone is reduced whereas VSNs in the basal zone are not affected. Several social and reproductive behaviors are under the influence of the vomeronasal organ. We have analyzed some behavioral consequences of having deficient neurons that corresponds to either of the two zones. We propose that cues important for aggressive behavior are detected by apical vomeronasal zone, while cues detected by both apical and basal VSNs influence gender preference behavior.

Chemical modification and limited enzymatic hydrolysis are powerful methods to obtain detailed information on the structure and dynamics of RNAs in solution. In the work presented here I have taken advantage of the properties of the divalent metal ion lead(II) to establish it as a new probe for investigating the structure of RNA in vivo. Besides highly specific lead(II)-induced cleavage due to the presence of tight metal ion binding sites, lead(II) is known to cleave RNA within single-stranded regions, loops and bulges. The detailed structural data obtained with three different RNAs: tmRNA, CopT, and the leader region of the ompF mRNA, show that lead(II) has great potential for in vivo studies of RNA structure. In P. fluorescens, the activity and stability of RsmY, a small regulatory RNA, was shown to be strongly dependent on repeated GGA motifs in single-stranded regions. In vivo lead(II) probing essentially confirmed predicted secondary structures and also indicated binding to a protein, RsmA. The potential in using lead(II) for mapping protein binding sites on RNAs was shown for the interaction between E. coli tmRNA and the SmpB protein. In vivo and in vitro data show protections in the tRNA-like domain of tmRNA due to binding to the SmpB protein, indicating that the SmpB protein is associated with the majority of tmRNA in the cell. Furthermore, the overall conformation/ structure of E. coli RNase P was analyzed by probing the native structure of M1 RNA in vivo with lead(II). The observed cleavages suggests that M1 RNA is present in two main conformations in the cell, one being characteristic of free RNase P, and one of an RNase P-tRNA complex. The results also indicate that the C5 protein subunit has only minor effects on the overall structure of the RNA subunit.

Transfer RNA from all organisms has modified nucleosides and position 34 (the wobble position) is one of the most extensively modified positions. Some wobble nucleoside modifications restrict codon choice (e.g. 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, mnm5s2U) while some extend the decoding capacity (e.g. uridine-5-oxyacetic acid, cmo5U). In this thesis the influence of wobble nucleoside modification on cell physiology and translation efficiency and accuracy is described. A mutant proL tRNA (proL207) was isolated that had an unmodified adenosine in the wobble position. Surprisingly, the proL207 mutant grows normally and is efficiently selected at the non-complementary CCC codon. The explanation of how an A34 containing tRNA can read CCC codon could be that a protonated A can form a base pair with C. cmo5U (uridine-5-oxyacetic acid) is present in the wobble position of five tRNA species in S.enterica. Two genes (cmoA and cmoB) have been identified that are involved in the synthetic pathway of cmo5U. Mutants were constructed in alanine, valine, proline, and threonine codon boxes which left only a cmo5U containing tRNA present in the cell. The influence of cmo5U on growth or on A site selection rates of the ternary complex was found to be tRNA dependent. During the study of the frameshift suppressor sufY of the hisC3737 frameshift mutation, a dominant mutation was found in YbbB protein, a selenouridine synthetase. The frameshifting occurs at CCC-CAA codon contexts and is specific for CAA codons, which are read by tRNAGlncmnm5s2UUG . The sufY204 mutation is a dominant mutation resulting in a change from Gly67 to Glu67 in the YbbB protein, and mediates the synthesis of several novel modified nucleosides/nucleotides (UKs) with unknown structure. The synthesis of these UKs is connected to the synthesis of cmnm5s2U34. The presence of UK on tRNAGlnU*UG reduced aminoacylation and therefore might account for the slow entry at CAA codons which could result in +1 frameshifting by P site tRNA. The selenourdine synthetase activity is not required for the synthesis of UKs. We hypothesize that an intrinsic activity that is low in the wild type protein has been elevated by the single amino acid substitution and results in the synthesis of UKs.

The assembly of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) into ribosomal subunits (30S and 50S) is a complex process. Transcription of rRNA requires antitermination proteins and the primary transcripts are processed by ribonucleases. R-proteins and rRNAs are chemically modified, the r-proteins bind to the rRNAs and the formed RNA-protein complexes are folded into mature ribosomal subunits. All these processes are well-coordinated and overlapping. Non-ribosomal factors are required for proper assembly and maturation of the ribosomal subunits. Two of these factors are the RimM and RbfA proteins, which bind to 30S subunits and are important for efficient processing of 16S rRNA. Lack of either RimM or RbfA results in a reduced amount of polysomes and a lower growth rate. An increased amount of RbfA can partially compensate for deficiencies shown by a RimM lacking mutant. Here, mutations that alter phylogenetically conserved amino acids in RimM have been constructed. One of these (rimM120), which resulted in the replacement of two adjacent tyrosines by alanines, reduced the growth rate three-fold and also decreased the processing efficiency of 16S rRNA. The RimM120 mutant protein showed a much reduced binding to the 30S subunits. Suppression of the rimM120 mutant was achieved by increased amount of the RimM120 protein, by overexpression of rbfA, or by mutations that changed r-protein S19 or 16S rRNA. A variant of r-protein S13, which was previously isolated as a suppressor to a deletion of rimM (∆rimM), suppressed also the rimM120 mutation. The wild-type RimM protein, but not the RimM120 protein, was shown to bind r-protein S19 in the 30S subunits. The changes in S13, S19 and 16S rRNA that compensated for the deficiencies shown by the rimM mutants are all located within a small region of the head of the 30S subunit, suggesting that this region is the likely target for the RimM action. To isolate RbfA variants that show reduced association with the 30S subunits, phylogenetically conserved, surface exposed amino acid residues of RbfA were changed to alanines or, in some instances, to amino acids of the opposite charge to that in the wild-type protein. Alterations of F5, R31, D46 and D100 had the largest effect on growth. Mutations in the metY-nusA-infB operon, isolated as suppressors to the ∆rimM mutant, were shown to increase the amounts of RbfA. In a ∆rimM mutant, all RbfA protein was found associated with the 30S subunits and no free RbfA was detected. The RlmB protein was shown to be the methyltransferase responsible for the formation of Gm2251 in 23S rRNA in Escherichia coli. Unlike a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant that lacks the orthologue to RlmB, Pet56p, which methylates mitochondrial rRNA, a ∆rlmB mutant did not show any defects in ribosomal assembly.

Proteins belonging to the Cbl family are multidomain scaffolds that participate in numerous processes, assembling signaling complexes and mediating attachment of ubiquitin to receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases. We characterized a novel role for Cbl and Cbl-b in ligand-dependent internalization of growth factor receptors. Upon stimulation with epidermal growth factor (EGF), Cbl proteins associate with EGF receptor, become phosphorylated, and bind to the three SH3 domains of CIN85, which brings endophilins to the complex with active receptors. Endophilins can induce internalization of the plasma membrane, contributing to formation of clathrin-coated pits. We identified a minimal binding domain for CIN85 in the carboxyl termini of Cbl/Cbl-b and observed constitutive association between CIN85, Cbl/Cbl-b and oncogenically stimulated receptor tyrosine kinases. In addition to functioning as a ubiquitin ligase, Cbl forms a complex with CIN85 and endophilin, which is required for efficient endocytosis and downregulation of membrane receptors. In EGF stimulated cells, we observed inducible modification of CIN85 and related CMS proteins by attachment of a single ubiquitin molecule. Monoubiquitination of CIN85 was mediated by the RING finger and dependent on the carboxyl terminal part of Cbl/Cbl-b, and demanded an intact carboxyl terminus of CIN85. Prolonged stimulation with EGF induced concomitant degradation of EGF receptors, Cbl, and monoubiquitinated forms of CIN85 in lysosomes. Cbl regulates cytoskeletal processes in a variety of cell systems. We identified SH3P2, a protein with SH3 domain and ankyrin repeats, as a Cbl partner and described its phosphorylation by Src and its distribution in fibroblasts and osteoclasts. SH3P2 formed inducible complexes with Cbl and actin in spread cells and colocalized with dynamic actin structures. Our data contribute to better understanding of the role of Cbl in downregulation of receptor tyrosine kinases as well as in controlling actin rearrangement.

This thesis addresses different aspects of the question about accuracy of protein synthesis: i) the mechanism of tRNA selection during translation ii) study of ribosomal mutations that affect accuracy and iii) the choice of aminoacyl-tRNA isoacceptors on synonymous codons. By measuring the codon reading efficiencies of cognate and near-cognate ternary complexes we demonstrate that in optimal physiological conditions accuracy of substrate selection is much higher than previously reported; that during translation the ribosomal A site is not blocked by unspecific binding of the non-cognate tRNAs which would inhibit the speed of protein synthesis. Our results suggest that there is an asymmetry between initial selection and proofreading step concerning the wobble position, and that binding of non-cognate substrate does not induce GTP hydrolysis on the ribosome. The knowledge obtained from the ribosomal mutant strains can be used to explain the general relation between the structure of the ribosome and the mechanism of codon recognition, as well as the streptomycin resistance or dependence phenomenon. Our work showed experimentally that the probability for binding certain tRNA to the A site of the ribosome is not based on the simple codon-anticodon base pair matching. In the living cell the availability of cognate tRNAs versus the demand for them (the frequency of codon usage) is finely balanced to ensure critical protein synthesis in stress conditions. We have also discovered a new codon assignment for a specific tRNALeu isoacceptor and detected a base modification in its anticodon, which has not been previously observed. The motivation for the later findings comes from a system biology modeling and the results are an example of an interdisciplinary collaboration.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) carries all the genetic information of a cell. Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) provides balanced pools of all four dNTPs, the building blocks of DNA. These building blocks are needed during DNA synthesis and repair. A failure in the control of the dNTP levels and/or their relative amounts leads to cell death or genetic abnormalities. Because of its central role in dNTP metabolism, RNR is highly regulated on multiple levels. The active RNR enzyme consists of two non-identical subunits called proteins R1 and R2. In mammalian cells, during an unperturbed cell cycle, the activity of RNR is highest during S and G2 phases. This is achieved by de novo synthesis of the limiting R2 protein at the onset of S phase, and by controlled degradation of the R2 protein during mitosis. This thesis deals with both the S phase-specific transcription of the mouse R2 gene, and the M phase-specific degradation of the mouse R2 protein. Sequence comparison of the mouse R2 promoter to human and guinea pig R2 promoters revealed some conserved elements. These putative regulatory elements were tested in both in vitro and in vivo transcription assays. We demonstrated that the previously identified, NF-Y binding CCAAT box is essential for high-level expression from the R2 promoter, but not for its S phase specificity. In addition, the conserved TATA box is dispensable both for basal and S phase-specific R2 transcription as long as the first 17 basepairs of the 5’ untranslated region are present. However, if this 5’ untranslated region is absent, the TATA box is needed for correct initiation of transcription. Focusing on the S phase specificity of the R2 gene expression, we demonstrated that the S phase-specific activity of the mouse R2 promoter is dependent on a protein-binding region located ~500 basepairs upstream of the transcription start site and an E2F binding site close to the transcription start site. Deletion of the upstream activating region results in an inactive promoter. In contrast, mutation of the E2F site leads to premature promoter activation in G1 and increased overall promoter activity. However, if the activating mutation of the E2F site is combined with mutation of the upstream activating region, the promoter becomes inactive. These results suggest that the E2F-dependent regulation is important but not sufficient for cell-cycle specific R2 transcription, and that the upstream activating region is crucial for the overall R2 promoter activity. In our studies of the M phase-specific R2 degradation, we found that it is dependent on a KEN sequence in the N-terminus of the R2 protein, recognized by the Cdh1-APC complex. Mutating the KEN box stabilizes the R2 protein during mitosis and G1 phase. In summary, these studies further extend our understanding of the regulation of the limiting R2 subunit of the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. The S phase-specific transcription of the R2 gene and the M phase-specific degradation of the R2 protein may serve as important mechanisms to protect the cell against unscheduled DNA synthesis.

<p>Protein biosynthesis is a core process in all living organisms. Assembly of the protein chain from aminoacids is catalysed by the ribosome, ancient and extremely complex macromolecular machine. Several different classes of accessory molecules are involved in translation, and one set of them, called translational GTPases (trGTPases), was in the focus of this work. </p><p>In this thesis properties of two trGTPases– EF-G and eRF3 - were studied by means of direct biochemical experiments. EF-G is a bacterial trGTPase involved in two steps of translation: translocation and ribosomal recycling. Translocation is a process of the ribosomal movement along the mRNA, and recycling as the step when upon completion of the protein ribosome is released from the mRNA via splitting in two ribosomal subunits. We found that off the ribosome EF-G has similar affinities to GDP and GTP, and thus given the predominance of the latter in the cell, EF-G should be present mostly in the complex with GTP. However, binding to the ribosome increases factors affinity to GTP drastically, ensuring that it is in the GTP-bound state. GDP can not promote neither translocation, not recycling, and GDPNP can not promote recycling. It can, however, promote translocation, but in so doing it results in an intermediate ribosomal state and translocation process can be reversed by addition of GDP, which is not the case for the EF-G•GTP-catalyzed reaction.</p><p>The second trGTPase we investigated is eukaryotic termination factor eRF3. This protein together with another factor, eRF1, is involved translation termination, which is release of the synthesized protein from the ribosome. We demonstrateed, that eRF3 alone has basically no propensity to bind GTP and thus resides in the GDP-bound state. Complex formation between eRF1 and eRF3 promotes GTP binding by the latter, resulting in the formation of the ternary complex eRF1•eRF3•GTP, which in turn is catalyzing the termination event.</p><p>Experimental investigations of trGTPases where rationalized within a generalized thermodynamical framework, accommoding the existent experimental observations, both structural and biochemical. </p>

<p>Trichome formation in Arabidopsis lyrata is a naturally occurring trait with phenotypic polymorphisms within wild populations. In Swedish accessions of A. lyrata, three genetic polymorphisms situated in the coding region of GL1, an important transcription factor in trichome production, have been identified, and these are candidates for being the cause of a glabrous phenotype. In this study a complementation test has been performed to clarify which mutation/mutations that are detrimental for trichome formation. A set of constructs has been transformed into A. thaliana, a close relative to A. lyrata, and subsequent generations of plants were examined for phenotype, genotype and gene expression. A SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) in the R3 MYB domain of GL1, resulting in a change of an alanine to aspartic acid, was identified as the critical polymorphism. The other two mutations, two indels, were harmless to protein function. The inserted constructs were under control of the native GL1 promoter. Plants that, because of the SNP, lacked trichome production, became totally glabrous.</p>