Suppression of a defect in the 5' untranslated leader of mitochondrial COX3 mRNA by a mutation affecting an mRNA-specific translational activator protein.

Translation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial COX3 mRNA, encoding subunit III of cytochrome c oxidase, specifically requires the action of the nuclear gene products PET54, PET122, and PET494 at a site encoded in the 612-base 5' untranslated leader. To identify more precisely the site of action of the translational activators, we constructed two large deletions of the COX3 mRNA 5' untranslated leader. Both deletions blocked translation without affecting mRNA stability. However, one of the large deletions was able to revert to partial function by a small secondary deletion within the remaining 5' leader sequences. Translation of the resulting mutant (cox3-15) mRNA was still dependent on the nuclear-encoded specific activators but was cold sensitive. We selected revertants of this mitochondrial mutant at low temperature to identify genes encoding proteins that might interact with the COX3 mRNA 5' leader. One such revertant carried a missense mutation in the PET122 gene that was a strong and dominant suppressor of the cold-sensitive defect in the mRNA, indicating that the PET122 protein interacts functionally (possibly directly) with the COX3 mRNA 5' leader. The cox3-15 mutation was not suppressed by overproduction of the wild-type PET122 protein but was very weakly suppressed by overproduction of PET494 and slightly better suppressed by co-overproduction of PET494 and PET122.