Mistranslating tRNA variants have anticodon- and sex-specific impacts on Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are vital in determining the specificity of translation. Mutations in tRNA genes can result in the misincorporation of amino acids into nascent polypeptides in a process known as mistranslation. Since mistranslation has different impacts, depending on the type of amino acid substitution, our goal here was to compare the impact of different mistranslating tRNASer variants on fly development, lifespan, and behaviour. We established two mistranslating fly lines, one with a tRNASer variant that misincorporates serine at valine codons (VS) and the other that misincorporates serine at threonine codons (TaS). While both mistranslating tRNAs increased development time and developmental lethality, the severity of the impacts differed depending on amino acid substitution and sex. The VS variant extended embryonic, larval, and pupal development whereas the TS only extended larval and pupal development. Females, but not males, containing either mistranslating tRNA presented with significantly more anatomical deformities than controls. Mistranslating females also experienced extended lifespan whereas mistranslating male lifespan was unaffected. In addition, mistranslating flies from both sexes showed improved locomotion as they aged, suggesting delayed neurodegeneration. Therefore, although mistranslation causes detrimental effects, we demonstrate that mistranslation also has positive effects on complex traits such as lifespan and locomotion. This has important implications for human health given the prevalence of tRNA variants in humans. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARYMutant tRNA genes can cause mistranslation, the misincorporation of amino acids into proteins, and are associated with several human diseases. This study investigated the role of two tRNA variants that cause threonine-to-serine (TS) or valine-to-serine (VS) substitution. Both variants caused developmental delays and lethality in both sexes and increase prevalence of deformities in females. Surprisingly, female TS and VS flies experienced increased lifespan and mistranslating males and females showed improved locomotion. These results suggest that mistranslation has both positive and negative effects that depend on the tRNA variant and sex of the fly.