Designing of a single gene encoding four functional proteins

• Published in: Journal of theoretical biology Vol. 419; pp. 266 - 268
• Main Authors: Inouye, Masayori, Ishida, Yojiro, Inouye, Keiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 21.04.2017
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Base Sequence; Collagen; Collagen - genetics; DNA - genetics; DNA, Antisense - genetics; Genes, Overlapping - genetics; Genes, Synthetic - genetics; Models, Genetic; Protein Biosynthesis; Protein Engineering; Proteins - genetics; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; Collagen; Protein Engineering
• ISSN: 0022-5193; 1095-8541
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.01.042

In the genomes of some organisms such as bacteriophages and bacteria, a DNA sequence is able to encode two different proteins, indicating that genetic information is compacted in DNA twice denser than in usual DNA. In theory, a DNA sequence has a maximal capacity to produce six different mRNAs, however, it is an intriguing question how many of these mRNAs are able to synthesize functional proteins. Here, we design a DNA sequence encoding four collagen-like proteins, two, (Gly-Arg-Pro)n and (Gly-Ala-Pro)n, from a sense mRNA and the other two, also (Gly-Arg-Pro)n and (Gly-Ala-Pro)n from its antisense mRNA, all of which are expected to form triple-helical structures unique to collagens. Other designs such as the combination of (Gly-Arg-Pro)n, (Gly-Val-Pro)n, (Gly-Thr-Pro)n and (Gly-Arg-Pro)n are also possible. The proposed DNA sequence is considered to contain the most compact genetic information ever created. •Designing four overlapping genes.•Four collagen-like proteins encoded from a single DNA.•The most condensed gene ever designed.