Complementary roles of initiation factor 1 and ribosome recycling factor in 70S ribosome splitting

Ribosomal dormancy at the nexus of ribosome homeostasis and protein synthesis

Dormancy or hibernation is a non-proliferative state of cells with low metabolic activity and gene expression. Dormant cells sequester ribosomes in a translationally inactive state, called dormant/hibernating ribosomes. These dormant ribosomes are important for the preservation of ribosomes and translation shut-off. While recent studies attempted to elucidate their modes of formation, the regulation and roles of the diverse dormant ribosomal populations are still largely understudied. The mechanistic details of the formation of dormant ribosomes in stress and especially their disassembly during recovery remain elusive. In this review, we discuss the roles of dormant ribosomes and their potential regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight the paradigms that need to be answered in the field of ribosomal dormancy.

Resistance mechanisms of Saccharomyces cerevisiae against silver nanoparticles with different sizes and coatings

To investigate the underlying resistance mechanisms of Saccharomyces cerevisiae against Ag-NPs with different particle sizes and coatings, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) technology was used to characterize the transcriptomes from S. cerevisiae exposed to 20-PVP-Ag, 100-PVP-Ag, 20-CIT-Ag and 100-CIT-Ag, respectively. The steroid biosynthesis was found as a general pathway for Ag-NPs stress responding, in which ERG6 and ERG3 were inhibited and ERG11, ERG25 and ERG5 were significantly up-regulated to resist the stress by supporting the later mutation and resistance and modulate drug efflux indirectly. The resistance mechanism of S. cerevisiae to 20-PVP-Ag seems different from that of 100-PVP-Ag, 20-CIT-Ag and 100-CIT-Ag. Under the 20-PVP-Ag, transmembrane transporter activity, transition metal ion homeostasis and oxidative phosphorylation pathway were main resistance pathways to enhance cell transport processes. While 100-PVP-Ag, 20-CIT-Ag and 100-CIT-Ag mainly impacted RNA binding, structural constituent of ribosome and ribosome pathway which can provide more energy to maintain the number and function of protein in cells. This study reveals the differences in resistance mechanisms of S. cerevisiae to Ag-NPs with different particle sizes and coatings, and explains several main regulatory mechanisms used to respond to silver stress. It will provide theoretical basis for the study of chemical risk assessment.

Mechanisms of ribosome recycling in bacteria and mitochondria: a structural perspective

In all living cells, the ribosome translates the genetic information carried by messenger RNAs (mRNAs) into proteins. The process of ribosome recycling, a key step during protein synthesis that ensures ribosomal subunits remain available for new rounds of translation, has been largely overlooked. Despite being essential to the survival of the cell, several mechanistic aspects of ribosome recycling remain unclear. In eubacteria and mitochondria, recycling of the ribosome into subunits requires the concerted action of the ribosome recycling factor (RRF) and elongation factor G (EF-G). Recently, the conserved protein HflX was identified in bacteria as an alternative factor that recycles the ribosome under stress growth conditions. The homologue of HflX, the GTP-binding protein 6 (GTPBP6), has a dual role in mitochondrial translation by facilitating ribosome recycling and biogenesis. In this review, mechanisms of ribosome recycling in eubacteria and mitochondria are described based on structural studies of ribosome complexes.

Rational Design of an Antimicrobial Peptide Based on Structural Insight into the Interaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Initiation Factor 1 with Its Cognate 30S Ribosomal Subunit

Bacterial infections continue to represent a major worldwide health hazard following the emergence of drug-resistant pathogenic strains. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen causing nosocomial infections with increased morbidity and mortality. The increasing antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa has led to an unmet need for discovery of new antibiotic candidates. Bacterial protein synthesis is an essential metabolic process and a validated target for antibiotic development; however, the precise structural mechanism in P. aeruginosa remains unknown. In this work, the interaction of P. aeruginosa initiation factor 1 (IF1) with the 30S ribosomal subunit was studied by NMR, which enabled us to construct a structure of IF1-bound 30S complex. A short α-helix in IF1 was found to be critical for IF1 ribosomal binding and function. A peptide derived from this α-helix was tested and displayed a high ability to inhibit bacterial growth. These results provide a clue for rational design of new antimicrobials.

Systematic evolution of initiation factor 3 and the ribosomal protein uS12 optimizes Escherichia coli growth with an unconventional initiator tRNA

The anticodon stem of initiator tRNA (i-tRNA) possesses the characteristic three consecutive GC base pairs (G29:C41, G30:C40, and G31:C39 abbreviated as GC/GC/GC or 3GC pairs) crucial to commencing translation. To understand the importance of this highly conserved element, we isolated two fast-growing suppressors of Escherichia coli sustained solely on an unconventional i-tRNA (i-tRNA_cg/GC/cg ) having cg/GC/cg sequence instead of the conventional GC/GC/GC. Both suppressors have the common mutation of V93A in initiation factor 3 (IF3), and additional mutations of either V32L (Sup-1) or H76L (Sup-2) in small subunit ribosomal protein 12 (uS12). The V93A mutation in IF3 was necessary for relaxed fidelity of i-tRNA selection to sustain on i-tRNA_cg/GC/cg though with a retarded growth. Subsequent mutations in uS12 salvaged the retarded growth by enhancing the fidelity of translation. The H76L mutation in uS12 showed better fidelity of i-tRNA selection. However, the V32L mutation compensated for the deficient fidelity of i-tRNA selection by ensuring an efficient fidelity check by ribosome recycling factor (RRF). We reveal unique genetic networks between uS12, IF3 and i-tRNA in initiation and between uS12, elongation factor-G (EF-G), RRF, and Pth (peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase) which, taken together, govern the fidelity of translation in bacteria.

Mechanistic insights into translation inhibition by aminoglycoside antibiotic arbekacin

How aminoglycoside antibiotics limit bacterial growth and viability is not clearly understood. Here we employ fast kinetics to reveal the molecular mechanism of action of a clinically used, new-generation, semisynthetic aminoglycoside Arbekacin (ABK), which is designed to avoid enzyme-mediated deactivation common to other aminoglycosides. Our results portray complete picture of ABK inhibition of bacterial translation with precise quantitative characterizations. We find that ABK inhibits different steps of translation in nanomolar to micromolar concentrations by imparting pleotropic effects. ABK binding stalls elongating ribosomes to a state, which is unfavorable for EF-G binding. This prolongs individual translocation step from ∼50 ms to at least 2 s; the mean time of translocation increases inversely with EF-G concentration. ABK also inhibits translation termination by obstructing RF1/RF2 binding to the ribosome. Furthermore, ABK decreases accuracy of mRNA decoding (UUC vs. CUC) by ∼80 000 fold, causing aberrant protein production. Importantly, translocation and termination events cannot be completely stopped even with high ABK concentration. Extrapolating our kinetic model of ABK action, we postulate that aminoglycosides impose bacteriostatic effect mainly by inhibiting translocation, while they become bactericidal in combination with decoding errors.

Regulation of translation by one-carbon metabolism in bacteria and eukaryotic organelles

Protein synthesis is an energetically costly cellular activity. It is therefore important that the process of mRNA translation remains in excellent synchrony with cellular metabolism and its energy reserves. Unregulated translation could lead to the production of incomplete, mistranslated, or misfolded proteins, squandering the energy needed for cellular sustenance and causing cytotoxicity. One-carbon metabolism (OCM), an integral part of cellular intermediary metabolism, produces a number of one-carbon unit intermediates (formyl, methylene, methenyl, methyl). These OCM intermediates are required for the production of amino acids such as methionine and other biomolecules such as purines, thymidylate, and redox regulators. In this review, we discuss how OCM impacts the translation apparatus (composed of ribosome, tRNA, mRNA, and translation factors) and regulates crucial steps in protein synthesis. More specifically, we address how the OCM metabolites regulate the fidelity and rate of translation initiation in bacteria and eukaryotic organelles such as mitochondria. Modulation of the fidelity of translation initiation by OCM opens new avenues to understand alternative translation mechanisms involved in stress tolerance and drug resistance.

Structural basis for ribosome recycling by RRF and tRNA

The bacterial ribosome is recycled into subunits by two conserved proteins, elongation factor G (EF-G) and the ribosome recycling factor (RRF). The molecular basis for ribosome recycling by RRF and EF-G remains unclear. Here, we report the crystal structure of a posttermination Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome complexed with EF-G, RRF and two transfer RNAs at a resolution of 3.5 Å. The deacylated tRNA in the peptidyl (P) site moves into a previously unsuspected state of binding (peptidyl/recycling, p/R) that is analogous to that seen during initiation. The terminal end of the p/R-tRNA forms nonfavorable contacts with the 50S subunit while RRF wedges next to central inter-subunit bridges, illuminating the active roles of tRNA and RRF in dissociation of ribosomal subunits. The structure uncovers a missing snapshot of tRNA as it transits between the P and exit (E) sites, providing insights into the mechanisms of ribosome recycling and tRNA translocation.

The kinetic mechanism of bacterial ribosome recycling

Bacterial ribosome recycling requires breakdown of the post-termination complex (PoTC), comprising a messenger RNA (mRNA) and an uncharged transfer RNA (tRNA) cognate to the terminal mRNA codon bound to the 70S ribosome. The translation factors, elongation factor G and ribosome recycling factor, are known to be required for recycling, but there is controversy concerning whether these factors act primarily to effect the release of mRNA and tRNA from the ribosome, with the splitting of the ribosome into subunits being somewhat dispensable, or whether their main function is to catalyze the splitting reaction, which necessarily precedes mRNA and tRNA release. Here, we utilize three assays directly measuring the rates of mRNA and tRNA release and of ribosome splitting in several model PoTCs. Our results largely reconcile these previously held views. We demonstrate that, in the absence of an upstream Shine–Dalgarno (SD) sequence, PoTC breakdown proceeds in the order: mRNA release followed by tRNA release and then by 70S splitting. By contrast, in the presence of an SD sequence all three processes proceed with identical apparent rates, with the splitting step likely being rate-determining. Our results are consistent with ribosome profiling results demonstrating the influence of upstream SD-like sequences on ribosome occupancy at or just before the mRNA stop codon.

De novo design and synthesis of a 30-cistron translation-factor module

Two of the many goals of synthetic biology are synthesizing large biochemical systems and simplifying their assembly. While several genes have been assembled together by modular idempotent cloning, it is unclear if such simplified strategies scale to very large constructs for expression and purification of whole pathways. Here we synthesize from oligodeoxyribonucleotides a completely de-novo-designed, 58-kb multigene DNA. This BioBrick plasmid insert encodes 30 of the 31 translation factors of the PURE translation system, each His-tagged and in separate transcription cistrons. Dividing the insert between three high-copy expression plasmids enables the bulk purification of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and translation factors necessary for affordable, scalable reconstitution of an in vitro transcription and translation system, PURE 3.0.

A general mechanism of ribosome dimerization revealed by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy

Bacteria downregulate their ribosomal activity through dimerization of 70S ribosomes, yielding inactive 100S complexes. In Escherichia coli, dimerization is mediated by the hibernation promotion factor (HPF) and ribosome modulation factor. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy study on 100S ribosomes from Lactococcus lactis and a dimerization mechanism involving a single protein: HPF^long. The N-terminal domain of HPF^long binds at the same site as HPF in Escherichia coli 100S ribosomes. Contrary to ribosome modulation factor, the C-terminal domain of HPF^long binds exactly at the dimer interface. Furthermore, ribosomes from Lactococcus lactis do not undergo conformational changes in the 30S head domains upon binding of HPF^long, and the Shine–Dalgarno sequence and mRNA entrance tunnel remain accessible. Ribosome activity is blocked by HPF^long due to the inhibition of mRNA recognition by the platform binding center. Phylogenetic analysis of HPF proteins suggests that HPF^long-mediated dimerization is a widespread mechanism of ribosome hibernation in bacteria.

When bacteria enter the stationary growth phase, protein translation is suppressed via the dimerization of 70S ribosomes into inactive complexes. Here the authors provide a structural basis for how the dual domain hibernation promotion factor promotes ribosome dimerization and hibernation in bacteria.

Chemical and structural characterization of a model Post-Termination Complex (PoTC) for the ribosome recycling reaction: Evidence for the release of the mRNA by RRF and EF-G

A model Post-Termination Complex (PoTC) used for the discovery of Ribosome Recycling Factor (RRF) was purified and characterized by cryo-electron microscopic analysis and biochemical methods. We established that the model PoTC has mostly one tRNA, at the P/E or P/P position, together with one mRNA. The structural studies were supported by the biochemical measurement of bound tRNA and mRNA. Using this substrate, we establish that the release of tRNA, release of mRNA and splitting of ribosomal subunits occur during the recycling reaction. Order of these events is tRNA release first followed by mRNA release and splitting almost simultaneously. Moreover, we demonstrate that IF3 is not involved in any of the recycling reactions but simply prevents the re-association of split ribosomal subunits. Our finding demonstrates that the important function of RRF includes the release of mRNA, which is often missed by the use of a short ORF with the Shine-Dalgarno sequence near the termination site.

Key Intermediates in Ribosome Recycling Visualized by Time-Resolved Cryoelectron Microscopy

Upon encountering a stop codon on mRNA, polypeptide synthesis on the ribosome is terminated by release factors, and the ribosome complex, still bound with mRNA and P-site-bound tRNA (post-termination complex, PostTC), is split into ribosomal subunits, ready for a new round of translational initiation. Separation of post-termination ribosomes into subunits, or "ribosome recycling," is promoted by the joint action of ribosome-recycling factor (RRF) and elongation factor G (EF-G) in a guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolysis-dependent manner. Here we used a mixing-spraying-based method of time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to visualize the short-lived intermediates of the recycling process. The two complexes that contain (1) both RRF and EF-G bound to the PostTC or (2) deacylated tRNA bound to the 30S subunit are of particular interest. Our observations of the native form of these complexes demonstrate the strong potential of time-resolved cryo-EM for visualizing previously unobservable transient structures.

Complete kinetic mechanism for recycling of the bacterial ribosome

How EF-G and RRF act together to split a post-termination ribosomal complex into its subunits has remained obscure. Here, using stopped-flow experiments with Rayleigh light scattering detection and quench-flow experiments with radio-detection of GTP hydrolysis, we have clarified the kinetic mechanism of ribosome recycling and obtained precise estimates of its kinetic parameters. Ribosome splitting requires that EF-G binds to an already RRF-containing ribosome. EF-G binding to RRF-free ribosomes induces futile rounds of GTP hydrolysis and inhibits ribosome splitting, implying that while RRF is purely an activator of recycling, EF-G acts as both activator and competitive inhibitor of RRF in recycling of the post-termination ribosome. The ribosome splitting rate and the number of GTPs consumed per splitting event depend strongly on the free concentrations of EF-G and RRF. The maximal recycling rate, here estimated as 25 sec(-1), is approached at very high concentrations of EF-G and RRF with RRF in high excess over EF-G. The present in vitro results, suggesting an in vivo ribosome recycling rate of ∼5 sec(-1), are discussed in the perspective of rapidly growing bacterial cells.

HflX is a ribosome-splitting factor rescuing stalled ribosomes under stress conditions

Adverse cellular conditions often lead to nonproductive translational stalling and arrest of ribosomes on mRNAs. Here, we used fast kinetics and cryo-EM to characterize Escherichia coli HflX, a GTPase with unknown function. Our data reveal that HflX is a heat shock-induced ribosome-splitting factor capable of dissociating vacant as well as mRNA-associated ribosomes with deacylated tRNA in the peptidyl site. Structural data demonstrate that the N-terminal effector domain of HflX binds to the peptidyl transferase center in a strikingly similar manner as that of the class I release factors and induces dramatic conformational changes in central intersubunit bridges, thus promoting subunit dissociation. Accordingly, loss of HflX results in an increase in stalled ribosomes upon heat shock. These results suggest a primary role of HflX in rescuing translationally arrested ribosomes under stress conditions.

Targeting and function of proteins mediating translation initiation in organelles of Plasmodium falciparum

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has two translationally active organelles - the apicoplast and mitochondrion, which import nuclear-encoded translation factors to mediate protein synthesis. Initiation of translation is a complex step wherein initiation factors (IFs) act in a regulated manner to form an initiation complex. We identified putative organellar IFs and investigated the targeting, structure and function of IF1, IF2 and IF3 homologues encoded by the parasite nuclear genome. A single PfIF1 is targeted to the apicoplast. Apart from its critical ribosomal interactions, PfIF1 also exhibited nucleic-acid binding and melting activities and mediated transcription anti-termination. This suggests a prominent ancillary function for PfIF1 in destabilisation of DNA and RNA hairpin loops encountered during transcription and translation of the A+T rich apicoplast genome. Of the three putative IF2 homologues, only one (PfIF2a) was an organellar protein with mitochondrial localisation. We additionally identified an IF3 (PfIF3a) that localised exclusively to the mitochondrion and another protein, PfIF3b, that was apicoplast targeted. PfIF3a exhibited ribosome anti-association activity, and monosome splitting by PfIF3a was enhanced by ribosome recycling factor (PfRRF2) and PfEF-G(Mit). These results fill a gap in our understanding of organellar translation in Plasmodium, which is the site of action of several anti-malarial compounds.

Improved cell-free RNA and protein synthesis system

Cell-free RNA and protein synthesis (CFPS) is becoming increasingly used for protein production as yields increase and costs decrease. Advances in reconstituted CFPS systems such as the Protein synthesis Using Recombinant Elements (PURE) system offer new opportunities to tailor the reactions for specialized applications including in vitro protein evolution, protein microarrays, isotopic labeling, and incorporating unnatural amino acids. In this study, using firefly luciferase synthesis as a reporter system, we improved PURE system productivity up to 5 fold by adding or adjusting a variety of factors that affect transcription and translation, including Elongation factors (EF-Ts, EF-Tu, EF-G, and EF4), ribosome recycling factor (RRF), release factors (RF1, RF2, RF3), chaperones (GroEL/ES), BSA and tRNAs. The work provides a more efficient defined in vitro transcription and translation system and a deeper understanding of the factors that limit the whole system efficiency.

A tRNA body with high affinity for EF-Tu hastens ribosomal incorporation of unnatural amino acids

There is evidence that tRNA bodies have evolved to reduce differences between aminoacyl-tRNAs in their affinity to EF-Tu. Here, we study the kinetics of incorporation of L-amino acids (AAs) Phe, Ala allyl-glycine (aG), methyl-serine (mS), and biotinyl-lysine (bK) using a tRNA(Ala)-based body (tRNA(AlaB)) with a high affinity for EF-Tu. Results are compared with previous data on the kinetics of incorporation of the same AAs using a tRNA(PheB) body with a comparatively low affinity for EF-Tu. All incorporations exhibited fast and slow phases, reflecting the equilibrium fraction of AA-tRNA in active ternary complex with EF-Tu:GTP before the incorporation reaction. Increasing the concentration of EF-Tu increased the amplitude of the fast phase and left its rate unaltered. This allowed estimation of the affinity of each AA-tRNA to EF-Tu:GTP during translation, showing about a 10-fold higher EF-Tu affinity for AA-tRNAs formed from the tRNA(AlaB) body than from the tRNA(PheB) body. At ∼1 µM EF-Tu, tRNA(AlaB) conferred considerably faster incorporation kinetics than tRNA(PheB), especially in the case of the bulky bK. In contrast, the swap to the tRNA(AlaB) body did not increase the fast phase fraction of N-methyl-Phe incorporation, suggesting that the slow incorporation of N-methyl-Phe had a different cause than low EF-Tu:GTP affinity. The total time for AA-tRNA release from EF-Tu:GDP, accommodation, and peptidyl transfer on the ribosome was similar for the tRNA(AlaB) and tRNA(PheB) bodies. We conclude that a tRNA body with high EF-Tu affinity can greatly improve incorporation of unnatural AAs in a potentially generalizable manner.

Structure and function of FusB: an elongation factor G-binding fusidic acid resistance protein active in ribosomal translocation and recycling

Fusidic acid (FA) is a bacteriostatic antibiotic that locks elongation factor G (EF-G) to the ribosome after GTP hydrolysis during elongation and ribosome recycling. The plasmid pUB101-encoded protein FusB causes FA resistance in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus through an interaction with EF-G. Here, we report 1.6 and 2.3 Å crystal structures of FusB. We show that FusB is a two-domain protein lacking homology to known structures, where the N-terminal domain is a four-helix bundle and the C-terminal domain has an alpha/beta fold containing a C4 treble clef zinc finger motif and two loop regions with conserved basic residues. Using hybrid constructs between S. aureus EF-G that binds to FusB and Escherichia coli EF-G that does not, we show that the sequence determinants for FusB recognition reside in domain IV and involve the C-terminal helix of S. aureus EF-G. Further, using kinetic assays in a reconstituted translation system, we demonstrate that FusB can rescue FA inhibition of tRNA translocation as well as ribosome recycling. We propose that FusB rescues S. aureus from FA inhibition by preventing formation or facilitating dissociation of the FA-locked EF-G–ribosome complex.

Mechanism of elongation factor-G-mediated fusidic acid resistance and fitness compensation in Staphylococcus aureus

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is often associated with fitness loss, which is compensated by secondary mutations. Fusidic acid (FA), an antibiotic used against pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, locks elongation factor-G (EF-G) to the ribosome after GTP hydrolysis. To clarify the mechanism of fitness loss and compensation in relation to FA resistance, we have characterized three S. aureus EF-G mutants with fast kinetics and crystal structures. Our results show that a significantly slower tRNA translocation and ribosome recycling, plus increased peptidyl-tRNA drop-off, are the causes for fitness defects of the primary FA-resistant mutant F88L. The double mutant F88L/M16I is three to four times faster than F88L in both reactions and showed no tRNA drop-off, explaining its fitness compensatory phenotype. The M16I mutation alone showed hypersensitivity to FA, higher activity, and somewhat increased affinity to GTP. The crystal structures demonstrate that Phe-88 in switch II is a key residue for FA locking and also for triggering interdomain movements in EF-G essential for its function, explaining functional deficiencies in F88L. The mutation M16I loosens the hydrophobic core in the G domain and affects domain I to domain II contact, resulting in improved activity both in the wild-type and F88L background. Thus, FA-resistant EF-G mutations causing fitness loss and compensation operate by affecting the conformational dynamics of EF-G on the ribosome.

Termination and post-termination events in eukaryotic translation

Translation termination in eukaryotes occurs in response to a stop codon in the ribosomal A-site and requires two release factors (RFs), eRF1 and eRF3, which bind to the A-site as an eRF1/eRF3/GTP complex with eRF1 responsible for codon recognition. After GTP hydrolysis by eRF3, eRF1 triggers hydrolysis of the polypeptidyl-tRNA, releasing the completed protein product. This leaves an 80S ribosome still bound to the mRNA, with deacylated tRNA in its P-site and at least eRF1 in its A-site, which needs to be disassembled and released from the mRNA to allow further rounds of translation. The first step in recycling is dissociation of the 60S ribosomal subunit, leaving a 40S/deacylated tRNA complex bound to the mRNA. This is mediated by ABCE1, which is a somewhat unusual member of the ATP-binding cassette family of proteins with no membrane-spanning domain but two essential iron-sulfur clusters. Two distinct pathways have been identified for subsequent ejection of the deacylated tRNA followed by dissociation of the 40S subunit from the mRNA, one executed by a subset of the canonical initiation factors (which therefore starts the process of preparing the 40S subunit for the next round of translation) and the other by Ligatin or homologous proteins. However, although this is the normal sequence of events, there are exceptions where the termination reaction is followed by reinitiation on the same mRNA (usually) at a site downstream of the stop codon. The overwhelming majority of such reinitiation events occur when the 5'-proximal open reading frame (ORF) is short and can result in significant regulation of translation of the protein-coding ORF, but there are also rare examples, mainly bicistronic viral RNAs, of reinitiation after a long ORF. Here, we review our current understanding of the mechanisms of termination, ribosome recycling, and reinitiation after translation of short and long ORFs.

How hibernation factors RMF, HPF, and YfiA turn off protein synthesis

Eubacteria inactivate their ribosomes as 100S dimers or 70S monomers upon entry into stationary phase. In Escherichia coli, 100S dimer formation is mediated by ribosome modulation factor (RMF) and hibernation promoting factor (HPF), or alternatively, the YfiA protein inactivates ribosomes as 70S monomers. Here, we present high-resolution crystal structures of the Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome in complex with each of these stationary-phase factors. The binding site of RMF overlaps with that of the messenger RNA (mRNA) Shine-Dalgarno sequence, which prevents the interaction between the mRNA and the 16S ribosomal RNA. The nearly identical binding sites of HPF and YfiA overlap with those of the mRNA, transfer RNA, and initiation factors, which prevents translation initiation. The binding of RMF and HPF, but not YfiA, to the ribosome induces a conformational change of the 30S head domain that promotes 100S dimer formation.

Evolutionary and genetic analyses of mitochondrial translation initiation factors identify the missing mitochondrial IF3 in S. cerevisiae

Mitochondrial translation is essentially bacteria-like, reflecting the bacterial endosymbiotic ancestry of the eukaryotic organelle. However, unlike the translation system of its bacterial ancestors, mitochondrial translation is limited to just a few mRNAs, mainly coding for components of the respiratory complex. The classical bacterial initiation factors (IFs) IF1, IF2 and IF3 are universal in bacteria, but only IF2 is universal in mitochondria (mIF2). We analyse the distribution of mitochondrial translation initiation factors and their sequence features, given two well-propagated claims: first, a sequence insertion in mitochondrial IF2 (mIF2) compensates for the universal lack of IF1 in mitochondria, and secondly, no homologue of mitochondrial IF3 (mIF3) is identifiable in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our comparative sequence analysis shows that, in fact, the mIF2 insertion is highly variable and restricted in length and primary sequence conservation to vertebrates, while phylogenetic and in vivo complementation analyses reveal that an uncharacterized S. cerevisiae mitochondrial protein currently named Aim23p is a bona fide evolutionary and functional orthologue of mIF3. Our results highlight the lineage-specific nature of mitochondrial translation and emphasise that comparative analyses among diverse taxa are essential for understanding whether generalizations from model organisms can be made across eukaryotes.

Role of helix 44 of 16S rRNA in the fidelity of translation initiation

The molecular mechanisms that govern translation initiation to ensure accuracy remain unclear. Here, we provide evidence that the subunit-joining step of initiation is controlled in part by a conformational change in the 1408 region of helix h44. First, chemical probing of 30S initiation complexes formed with either a cognate (AUG) or near-cognate (AUC) start codon shows that an IF1-dependent enhancement at A1408 is reduced in the presence of AUG. This change in reactivity is due to a conformational change rather than loss of IF1, because other portions of the IF1 footprint are unchanged and high concentrations of IF1 fail to diminish the reactivity difference seen at A1408. Second, mutations in h44 such as A1413C stimulate 50S docking and cause reduced reactivity at A1408. Third, streptomycin, which has been shown by Rodnina and coworkers to stimulate 50S docking by reversing the inhibitory effects of IF1, also causes reduced reactivity at A1408. Collectively, these data support a model in which IF1 alters the A1408 region of h44 in a way that makes 50S docking unfavorable, and canonical codon-anticodon pairing in the P site restores h44 to a docking-favorable conformation. We also find that, in the absence of factors, the cognate 30S•AUG•fMet-tRNA ternary complex is >1000-fold more stable than the near-cognate 30S•AUC•fMet-tRNA complex. Hence, the selectivity of ternary complex formation is inherently high, exceeding that of initiation in vivo by more than 10-fold.

Structural basis of highly conserved ribosome recycling in eukaryotes and archaea

Ribosome-driven protein biosynthesis is comprised of four phases: initiation, elongation, termination and recycling. In bacteria, ribosome recycling requires ribosome recycling factor and elongation factor G, and several structures of bacterial recycling complexes have been determined. In the eukaryotic and archaeal kingdoms, however, recycling involves the ABC-type ATPase ABCE1 and little is known about its structural basis. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of eukaryotic and archaeal ribosome recycling complexes containing ABCE1 and the termination factor paralogue Pelota. These structures reveal the overall binding mode of ABCE1 to be similar to canonical translation factors. Moreover, the iron-sulphur cluster domain of ABCE1 interacts with and stabilizes Pelota in a conformation that reaches towards the peptidyl transferase centre, thus explaining how ABCE1 may stimulate peptide-release activity of canonical termination factors. Using the mechanochemical properties of ABCE1, a conserved mechanism in archaea and eukaryotes is suggested that couples translation termination to recycling, and eventually to re-initiation.

Ribosome display: a perspective

Ribosome display is an in vitro evolution technology for proteins. It is based on in vitro translation, but prevents the newly synthesized protein and the mRNA encoding it from leaving the ribosome. It thereby couples phenotype and genotype. Since no cells need to be transformed, very large libraries can be used directly in selections, and the in vitro amplification provides a very convenient integration of random mutagenesis that can be incorporated into the procedure. This review highlights concepts, mechanisms, and different variations of ribosome display and compares it to related methods. Applications of ribosome display are summarized, e.g., the directed evolution of proteins for higher binding affinity, for higher stability or other improved biophysical parameters and enzymatic properties. Ribosome display has developed into a robust technology used in academia and industry alike, and it has made the cell-free Darwinian evolution of proteins over multiple generations a reality.

Translation Initiation

Selection of correct start codons on messenger RNAs is a key step required for faithful translation of the genetic message. Such a selection occurs in a complex process, during which a translation-competent ribosome assembles, eventually having in its P site a specialized methionyl-tRNAMet base-paired with the start codon on the mRNA. This chapter summarizes recent advances describing at the molecular level the successive steps involved in the process. Special emphasis is put on the roles of the three initiation factors and of the initiator tRNA, which are crucial for the efficiency and the specificity of the process. In particular, structural analyses concerning complexes containing ribosomal subunits, as well as detailed kinetic studies, have shed new light on the sequence of events leading to faithful initiation of protein synthesis in Bacteria.

Activation of initiation factor 2 by ligands and mutations for rapid docking of ribosomal subunits

We previously identified mutations in the GTPase initiation factor 2 (IF2), located outside its tRNA-binding domain, compensating strongly (A-type) or weakly (B-type) for initiator tRNA formylation deficiency. We show here that rapid docking of 30S with 50S subunits in initiation of translation depends on switching 30S subunit-bound IF2 from its inactive to active form. Activation of wild-type IF2 requires GTP and formylated initiator tRNA (fMet-tRNA(i)). In contrast, extensive activation of A-type IF2 occurs with only GTP or with GDP and fMet-tRNA(i), implying a passive role for initiator tRNA as activator of IF2 in subunit docking. The theory of conditional switching of GTPases quantitatively accounts for all our experimental data. We find that GTP, GDP, fMet-tRNA(i) and A-type mutations multiplicatively increase the equilibrium ratio, K, between active and inactive forms of IF2 from a value of 4 × 10(-4) for wild-type apo-IF2 by factors of 300, 8, 80 and 20, respectively. Functional characterization of the A-type mutations provides keys to structural interpretation of conditional switching of IF2 and other multidomain GTPases.

Probing translation with small-molecule inhibitors

The translational apparatus of the bacterial cell remains one of the principal targets of antibiotics for the clinical treatment of infection worldwide. Since the introduction of specific translation inhibitors into clinical practice in the late 1940s, intense efforts have been made to understand their precise mechanisms of action. Such research has often revealed significant and sometimes unexpected insights into many fundamental aspects of the translation mechanism. Central to progress in this area, high-resolution crystal structures of the bacterial ribosome identifying the sites of antibiotic binding are now available, which, together with recent developments in single-molecule and fast-kinetic approaches, provide an integrated view of the dynamic translation process. Assays employing these approaches and focusing on specific steps of the overall translation process are amenable for drug screening. Such assays, coupled with structural studies, have the potential not only to accelerate the discovery of novel and effective antimicrobial agents, but also to refine our understanding of the mechanisms of translation. Antibiotics often stabilize specific functional states of the ribosome and therefore allow distinct translation steps to be dissected in molecular detail.

Recycling of the posttermination complexes of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Escherichia coli ribosomes using heterologous factors

In eubacteria, ribosome recycling factor (RRF) and elongation factor G (EFG) function together to dissociate posttermination ribosomal complexes. Earlier studies, using heterologous factors from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Escherichia coli revealed that specific interactions between RRF and EFG are crucial for their function in ribosome recycling. Here, we used translation factors from E. coli, Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. tuberculosis, and polysomes from E. coli and M. smegmatis, and employed in vivo and in vitro experiments to further understand the role of EFG in ribosome recycling. We show that E. coli EFG (EcoEFG) recycles E. coli ribosomes with E. coli RRF (EcoRRF), but not with mycobacterial RRFs. Also, EcoEFG fails to recycle M. smegmatis ribosomes with either EcoRRF or mycobacterial RRFs. On the other hand, mycobacterial EFGs recycle both E. coli and M. smegmatis ribosomes with either of the RRFs. These observations suggest that EFG establishes distinct interactions with RRF and the ribosome to carry out ribosome recycling. Furthermore, the EFG chimeras generated by swapping domains between mycobacterial EFGs and EcoEFG suggest that while the residues needed to specify the EFG interaction with RRF are located in domains IV and V, those required to specify its interaction with the ribosome are located throughout the molecule.

Error-prone initiation factor 2 mutations reduce the fitness cost of antibiotic resistance

Mutations in the fmt gene (encoding formyl methionine transferase) that eliminate formylation of initiator tRNA (Met-tRNA(i)) confer resistance to the novel antibiotic class of peptide deformylase inhibitors (PDFIs) while concomitantly reducing bacterial fitness. Here we show in Salmonella typhimurium that novel mutations in initiation factor 2 (IF2) located outside the initiator tRNA binding domain can partly restore fitness of fmt mutants without loss of antibiotic resistance. Analysis of initiation of protein synthesis in vitro showed that with non-formylated Met-tRNA(i) IF2 mutants initiated much faster than wild-type IF2, whereas with formylated fMet-tRNA(i) the initiation rates were similar. Moreover, the increase in initiation rates with Met-tRNA(i) conferred by IF2 mutations in vitro correlated well with the increase in growth rate conferred by the same mutations in vivo, suggesting that the mutations in IF2 compensate formylation deficiency by increasing the rate of in vivo initiation with Met-tRNA(i). IF2 mutants had also a high propensity for erroneous initiation with elongator tRNAs in vitro, which could account for their reduced fitness in vivo in a formylation-proficient strain. More generally, our results suggest that bacterial protein synthesis is mRNA-limited and that compensatory mutations in IF2 could increase the persistence of PDFI-resistant bacteria in clinical settings.

Beyond ribosome rescue: tmRNA and co-translational processes

tmRNA is a unique bi-functional RNA that acts as both a tRNA and an mRNA to enter stalled ribosomes and direct the addition of a peptide tag to the C terminus of nascent polypeptides. Despite a reasonably clear understanding of tmRNA activity, the reason for its absolute conservation throughout the eubacteria is unknown. Although tmRNA plays many physiological roles in different bacterial systems, recent studies suggest a general role for trans-translation in monitoring protein folding and perhaps other co-translational processes. This review will focus on these new hypotheses and the data that support them.

Translation factors direct intrinsic ribosome dynamics during translation termination and ribosome recycling

Characterizing the structural dynamics of the translating ribosome remains a major goal in the study of protein synthesis. Deacylation of peptidyl-tRNA during translation elongation triggers fluctuations of the pretranslocation ribosomal complex between two global conformational states. Elongation factor G-mediated control of the resulting dynamic conformational equilibrium helps to coordinate ribosome and tRNA movements during elongation and is thus a crucial mechanistic feature of translation. Beyond elongation, deacylation of peptidyl-tRNA also occurs during translation termination, and this deacylated tRNA persists during ribosome recycling. Here we report that specific regulation of the analogous conformational equilibrium by translation release and ribosome recycling factors has a critical role in the termination and recycling mechanisms. Our results support the view that specific regulation of the global state of the ribosome is a fundamental characteristic of all translation factors and a unifying theme throughout protein synthesis.

Does the ribosome have initiation and elongation modes of translation?

RNA polymerases differ functionally and structurally in the initiation phase of transcription, when polymerization of 8-12 nucleotides occurs, from the later phases of transcription. Here we argue that the ribosome also might have different properties when translating the first codons in open reading frames, as compared with the later phases of translation.

Control of translation initiation involves a factor-induced rearrangement of helix 44 of 16S ribosomal RNA

Initiation of translation involves recognition of the start codon by the initiator tRNA in the 30S subunit. To investigate the role of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in this process, we isolated a number of 16S rRNA mutations that increase translation from the non-canonical start codon AUC. These mutations cluster to distinct regions that overlap remarkably well with previously identified class III protection sites and implicate both IF1 and IF3 in start codon selection. Two mutations map to the 790 loop and presumably act by inhibiting IF3 binding. Another cluster of mutations surrounds the conserved A1413(o)G1487 base pair of helix 44 in a region known to be distorted by IF1 and IF3. Site-directed mutagenesis in this region confirmed that this factor-induced rearrangement of helix 44 helps regulate initiation fidelity. A third cluster of mutations maps to the neck of the 30S subunit, suggesting that the dynamics of the head domain influences translation initiation. In addition to identifying mutations that decrease fidelity, we found that many P-site mutations increase the stringency of start codon selection. These data provide evidence that the interaction between the initiator tRNA and the 30S P site is tuned to balance efficiency and accuracy during initiation.

Specificity of the ribosomal A site for aminoacyl-tRNAs

Although some experiments suggest that the ribosome displays specificity for the identity of the esterified amino acid of its aminoacyl-tRNA substrate, a study measuring dissociation rates of several misacylated tRNAs containing the GAC anticodon from the A site showed little indication for such specificity. In this article, an expanded set of misacylated tRNAs and two 2'-deoxynucleotide-substituted mRNAs are used to demonstrate the presence of a lower threshold in k(off) values for aa-tRNA binding to the A site. When a tRNA binds sufficiently well to reach this threshold, additional stabilizing effects due to the esterified amino acid or changes in tRNA sequence are not observed. However, specificity for different amino acid side chains and the tRNA body is observed when tRNA binding is sufficiently weaker than this threshold. We propose that uniform aa-tRNA binding to the A site may be a consequence of a conformational change in the ribosome, induced by the presence of the appropriate combination of contributions from the anticodon, amino acid and tRNA body.

Slow peptide bond formation by proline and other N-alkylamino acids in translation

Proteins are made from 19 aa and, curiously, one N-alkylamino acid ("imino acid"), proline (Pro). Pro is thought to be incorporated by the translation apparatus at the same rate as the 19 aa, even though the alkyl group in Pro resides directly on the nitrogen nucleophile involved in peptide bond formation. Here, by combining quench-flow kinetics and charging of tRNAs with cognate and noncognate amino acids, we find that Pro incorporates in translation significantly more slowly than Phe or Ala and that other N-alkylamino acids incorporate much more slowly. Our results show that the slowest step in incorporation of N-alkylamino acids is accommodation/peptidyl transfer after GTP hydrolysis on EF-Tu. The relative incorporation rates correlate with expectations from organic chemistry, suggesting that amino acid sterics and basicities affect translation rates at the peptidyl transfer step. Cognate isoacceptor tRNAs speed Pro incorporation to rates compatible with in vivo, although still 3-6 times slower than Phe incorporation from Phe-tRNA(Phe) depending on the Pro codon. Results suggest that Pro is the only N-alkylamino acid in the genetic code because it has a privileged cyclic structure that is more reactive than other N-alkylamino acids. Our data on the variation of the rate of incorporation of Pro from native Pro-tRNA(Pro) isoacceptors at 4 different Pro codons help explain codon bias not accounted for by the "tRNA abundance" hypothesis.

The role of GTP in transient splitting of 70S ribosomes by RRF (ribosome recycling factor) and EF-G (elongation factor G)

Ribosome recycling factor (RRF), elongation factor G (EF-G) and GTP split 70S ribosomes into subunits. Here, we demonstrated that the splitting was transient and the exhaustion of GTP resulted in re-association of the split subunits into 70S ribosomes unless IF3 (initiation factor 3) was present. However, the splitting was observed with sucrose density gradient centrifugation (SDGC) without IF3 if RRF, EF-G and GTP were present in the SDGC buffer. The splitting of 70S ribosomes causes the decrease of light scattering by ribosomes. Kinetic constants obtained from the light scattering studies are sufficient to account for the splitting of 70S ribosomes by RRF and EF-G/GTP during the lag phase for activation of ribosomes for the log phase. As the amount of 70S ribosomes increased, more RRF, EF-G and GTP were necessary to split 70S ribosomes. In the presence of a physiological amount of polyamines, GTP and factors, even 0.6 microM 70S ribosomes (12 times higher than the 70S ribosomes for routine assay) were split. Spermidine (2 mM) completely inhibited anti-association activity of IF3, and the RRF/EF-G/GTP-dependent splitting of 70S ribosomes.

A disease-causing point mutation in human mitochondrial tRNAMet rsults in tRNA misfolding leading to defects in translational initiation and elongation

The mitochondrial tRNA genes are hot spots for mutations that lead to human disease. A single point mutation (T4409C) in the gene for human mitochondrial tRNA(Met) (hmtRNA(Met)) has been found to cause mitochondrial myopathy. This mutation results in the replacement of U8 in hmtRNA(Met) with a C8. The hmtRNA(Met) serves both in translational initiation and elongation in human mitochondria making this tRNA of particular interest in mitochondrial protein synthesis. Here we show that the single 8U-->C mutation leads to a failure of the tRNA to respond conformationally to Mg(2+). This mutation results in a drastic disruption of the structure of the hmtRNA(Met), which significantly reduces its aminoacylation. The small fraction of hmtRNA(Met) that can be aminoacylated is not formylated by the mitochondrial Met-tRNA transformylase preventing its function in initiation, and it is unable to form a stable ternary complex with elongation factor EF-Tu preventing any participation in chain elongation. We have used structural probing and molecular reconstitution experiments to examine the structures formed by the normal and mutated tRNAs. In the presence of Mg(2+), the normal tRNA displays the structural features expected of a tRNA. However, even in the presence of Mg(2+), the mutated tRNA does not form the cloverleaf structure typical of tRNAs. Thus, we believe that this mutation has disrupted a critical Mg(2+)-binding site on the tRNA required for formation of the biologically active structure. This work establishes a foundation for understanding the physiological consequences of the numerous mitochondrial tRNA mutations that result in disease in humans.