Placement of dinitrophenyl-modified ribosomal proteins in totally reconstituted Escherichia coli 30 S subunits. Localization of proteins S6, S13, S16, and S18 by immune electron microscopy

Structure of functionally activated small ribosomal subunit at 3.3 angstroms resolution

The small ribosomal subunit performs the decoding of genetic information during translation. The structure of that from Thermus thermophilus shows that the decoding center, which positions mRNA and three tRNAs, is constructed entirely of RNA. The entrance to the mRNA channel will encircle the message when a latch-like contact closes and contributes to processivity and fidelity. Extended RNA helical elements that run longitudinally through the body transmit structural changes, correlating events at the particle's far end with the cycle of mRNA translocation at the decoding region. 96% of the nucleotides were traced and the main fold of all proteins was determined. The latter are either peripheral or appear to serve as linkers. Some may assist the directionality of translocation.

Incorporation of dinitrophenyl protein L23 into totally reconstituted Escherichia coli 50 S ribosomal subunits and its localization at two sites by immune electron microscopy

Escherichia coli ribosomal protein L23 was derivatized with [3H]2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene both at the N terminus and at internal lysines. Dinitrophenyl-L23 (DNP-L23) was taken up into 50 S subunits from a reconstitution mixture containing rRNA and total 50 S protein depleted in L23. Unmodified L23 competed with DNP-L23 for uptake, indicating that each protein form bound in an identical or similar position within the subunit. Modified L23, incorporated at a level of 0.7 or 0.4 DNP groups per 50 S, was localized by electron microscopy of subunits complexed with antibodies to dinitrophenol. Antibodies were seen at two major sites with almost equal frequency. One site is beside the central protuberance, in a region previously identified as the peptidyltransferase center. The second location is at the base of the subunit, in the area of the exit site from which the growing peptide leaves the ribosome. Models derived from image reconstruction show hollows or canyons in the subunit and a tunnel that links the transferase and exit sites. Our results indicate that L23 is at the subunit interior, with separate elements of the protein at the subunit surface at or near both ends of this tunnel.

Phosphorylation of elongation factor G and ribosomal protein S6 in bacteriophage T7-infected Escherichia coli

Bacteriophage T7 expresses a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase activity during infection of its host, Escherichia coli. The protein kinase (gp0.7 PK), encoded by the T7 early gene 0.7, enhances phage reproduction under sub-optimal growth conditions. It was previously shown that ribosomal protein S1 and translation initiation factors IF1, IF2, and IF3 are phosphorylated in T7-infected cells, and it was suggested that phosphorylation of these proteins may serve to stimulate translation of the phage late mRNAs. Using high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and specific immunoprecipitation, we show that elongation factor G and ribosomal protein S6 are phosphorylated following T7 infection. The gel electrophoretic data moreover indicate that elongation factor P is phosphorylated in T7-infected cells. T7 early and late mRNAs are processed by ribonuclease III, whose activity is stimulated through phosphorylation by gp0.7 PK. Specific overexpression and phosphorylation was used to locate the RNase III polypeptide in the standard two-dimensional gel pattern, and to confirm that serine is the phosphate-accepting amino acid. The two-dimensional gels show that the in vivo expression of gp0.7 PK results in the phosphorylation of over 90 proteins, which is a significantly higher number than previous estimates. The protein kinase activities of the T7-related phages T3 and BA14 produce essentially the same pattern of phosphorylated proteins as that of T7. Finally, several experimental variables are analysed which influence the production and pattern of phosphorylated proteins in both uninfected and T7-infected cells.