AUU-to-AUG mutation in the initiator codon of the translation initiation factor IF3 abolishes translational autocontrol of its own gene (infC) in vivo.

We previously showed that Escherichia coli translation initiation factor IF3 regulates the expression of its own gene infC at the translational level in vivo. Here we create two alterations in the infC gene and test their effects on translational autocontrol of infC expression in vivo by measuring beta-galactosidase activity expressed from infC-lacZ gene fusions under conditions of up to 4-fold derepression or 3-fold repression of infC expression. Replacement of the infC promoter with the trp promoter deletes 120 nucleotides of the infC mRNA 5' to the translation initiation site without affecting autogenous translational control. Mutation of the unusual AUU initiator codon of infC to the more common AUG initiator codon abolishes translation initiation factor IF3-dependent repression and derepression of infC expression in vivo. These results establish the AUU initiator codon of infC as an essential cis-acting element in autogenous translational control of translation initiation factor IF3 expression in vivo.