Abstract
We present evidence for translational activation of the Qβ coliphage maturation cistron, mediated by the presence of Qβ replicase. This activation does not require RNA replication, translation of a second gene, or any direct protein-RNA binding at the maturation gene initiation site. Our data support a model in which the Qβ maturation gene remains translationally “off” by two means: (1) the thermodynamic stability of an RNA structure that greatly discourages, but does not eliminate, ribosome access at the maturation start site; and (2) the presence of the stronger, proximal coat gene ribosome binding site. Moreover, maturation gene expression is switched “on” when ribosome entry at the coat initiation site, present on the same polycistronic RNA molecule, is repressed by Qβ replicase, thereby allowing ribosomes to compete for the weaker, upstream maturation start site.
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