Domain and nucleotide dependence of the interaction between Saccharomyces cerevisiae translation elongation factors 3 and 1A

A novel function for eukaryotic elongation factor 3: Inhibition of stop codon readthrough in yeast

Eukaryotic elongation factor 3 (eEF3) is one of the essential yeast ribosome-associated ATP-binding cassette type F (ABCF) ATPases. Previously, we found that eEF3 stimulates release of mRNA from puromycin-treated polysomes. In this study, we used a cell-free cricket paralysis virus (CrPV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated firefly luciferase bicistronic mRNA translation system with yeast S30 extract. When eEF3 was partially removed from the crude extract, the product from the downstream ORF was increased by the readthrough of a UAA stop codon in the upstream ORF. eEF3 enhanced the release of luciferase from the polysome by eukaryotic release factor (eRF)1 and eRF3. These results suggest that eEF3 is a factor that assists eRFs in performing normal protein synthesis termination in yeast.

Frameshifting at collided ribosomes is modulated by elongation factor eEF3 and by integrated stress response regulators Gcn1 and Gcn20

Ribosome stalls can result in ribosome collisions that elicit quality control responses, one function of which is to prevent ribosome frameshifting, an activity that entails the interaction of the conserved yeast protein Mbf1 with uS3 on colliding ribosomes. However, the full spectrum of factors that mediate frameshifting during ribosome collisions is unknown. To delineate such factors in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we used genetic selections for mutants that affect frameshifting from a known ribosome stall site, CGA codon repeats. We show that the general translation elongation factor eEF3 and the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway components Gcn1 and Gcn20 modulate frameshifting in opposing manners. We found a mutant form of eEF3 that specifically suppressed frameshifting, but not translation inhibition by CGA codons. Thus, we infer that frameshifting at collided ribosomes requires eEF3, which facilitates tRNA-mRNA translocation and E-site tRNA release in yeast and other single cell organisms. In contrast, we found that removal of either Gcn1 or Gcn20, which bind collided ribosomes with Mbf1, increased frameshifting. Thus, we conclude that frameshifting is suppressed by Gcn1 and Gcn20, although these effects are not mediated primarily through activation of the ISR. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between eEF3-mediated frameshifting and other quality control mechanisms, finding that Mbf1 requires either Hel2 or Gcn1 to suppress frameshifting with wild-type eEF3. Thus, these results provide evidence of a direct link between translation elongation and frameshifting at collided ribosomes, as well as evidence that frameshifting is constrained by quality control mechanisms that act on collided ribosomes.

Yeast translation elongation factor eEF3 promotes late stages of tRNA translocation

In addition to the conserved translation elongation factors eEF1A and eEF2, fungi require a third essential elongation factor, eEF3. While eEF3 has been implicated in tRNA binding and release at the ribosomal A and E sites, its exact mechanism of action is unclear. Here, we show that eEF3 acts at the mRNA–tRNA translocation step by promoting the dissociation of the tRNA from the E site, but independent of aminoacyl‐tRNA recruitment to the A site. Depletion of eEF3 in vivo leads to a general slowdown in translation elongation due to accumulation of ribosomes with an occupied A site. Cryo‐EM analysis of native eEF3‐ribosome complexes shows that eEF3 facilitates late steps of translocation by favoring non‐rotated ribosomal states, as well as by opening the L1 stalk to release the E‐site tRNA. Additionally, our analysis provides structural insights into novel translation elongation states, enabling presentation of a revised yeast translation elongation cycle.

Domain II of the translation elongation factor eEF1A is required for Gcn2 kinase inhibition

The signalling pathway governing general control nonderepressible (Gcn)2 kinase allows cells to cope with amino acid shortage. Under starvation, Gcn2 phosphorylates the translation initiation factor eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF)2α, triggering downstream events that ultimately allow cells to cope with starvation. Under nutrient-replete conditions, the translation elongation factor eEF1A binds Gcn2 to contribute to keeping Gcn2 inactive. Here, we aimed to map the regions in eEF1A involved in binding and/or regulating Gcn2. We find that eEF1A amino acids 1-221 and 222-315, containing most of domains I and II, respectively, bind Gcn2 in vitro. Overexpression of eEF1A lacking or containing domain III impairs eIF2α phosphorylation. While the latter reduces growth under starvation similarly to eEF1A lacking domain I, the former enhances growth in a Gcn2-dependent manner. Our studies suggest that domain II is required for Gcn2 inhibition and that eEF1A lacking domain III mainly affects the Gcn2 response pathway downstream of Gcn2.

Ribosome profiling analysis of eEF3-depleted Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In addition to the standard set of translation factors common in eukaryotic organisms, protein synthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires an ABCF ATPase factor eEF3, eukaryotic Elongation Factor 3. eEF3 is an E-site binder that was originally identified as an essential factor involved in the elongation stage of protein synthesis. Recent biochemical experiments suggest an additional function of eEF3 in ribosome recycling. We have characterised the global effects of eEF3 depletion on translation using ribosome profiling. Depletion of eEF3 results in decreased ribosome density at the stop codon, indicating that ribosome recycling does not become rate limiting when eEF3 levels are low. Consistent with a defect in translation elongation, eEF3 depletion causes a moderate redistribution of ribosomes towards the 5′ part of the open reading frames. We observed no E-site codon- or amino acid-specific ribosome stalling upon eEF3 depletion, supporting its role as a general elongation factor. Surprisingly, depletion of eEF3 leads to a relative decrease in P-site proline stalling, which we hypothesise is a secondary effect of generally decreased translation and/or decreased competition for the E-site with eIF5A.

ABCF ATPases Involved in Protein Synthesis, Ribosome Assembly and Antibiotic Resistance: Structural and Functional Diversification across the Tree of Life

Within the larger ABC superfamily of ATPases, ABCF family members eEF3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and EttA in Escherichia coli have been found to function as ribosomal translation factors. Several other ABCFs including biochemically characterized VgaA, LsaA and MsrE confer resistance to antibiotics that target the peptidyl transferase center and exit tunnel of the ribosome. However, the diversity of ABCF subfamilies, the relationships among subfamilies and the evolution of antibiotic resistance (ARE) factors from other ABCFs have not been explored. To address this, we analyzed the presence of ABCFs and their domain architectures in 4505 genomes across the tree of life. We find 45 distinct subfamilies of ABCFs that are widespread across bacterial and eukaryotic phyla, suggesting that they were present in the last common ancestor of both. Surprisingly, currently known ARE ABCFs are not confined to a distinct lineage of the ABCF family tree, suggesting that ARE can readily evolve from other ABCF functions. Our data suggest that there are a number of previously unidentified ARE ABCFs in antibiotic producers and important human pathogens. We also find that ATPase-deficient mutants of all four E. coli ABCFs (EttA, YbiT, YheS and Uup) inhibit protein synthesis, indicative of their ribosomal function, and demonstrate a genetic interaction of ABCFs Uup and YheS with translational GTPase BipA involved in assembly of the 50S ribosome subunit. Finally, we show that the ribosome-binding resistance factor VmlR from Bacillus subtilis is localized to the cytoplasm, ruling out a role in antibiotic efflux.

Polyamine Control of Translation Elongation Regulates Start Site Selection on Antizyme Inhibitor mRNA via Ribosome Queuing

Translation initiation is typically restricted to AUG codons, and scanning eukaryotic ribosomes inefficiently recognize near-cognate codons. We show that queuing of scanning ribosomes behind a paused elongating ribosome promotes initiation at upstream weak start sites. Ribosomal profiling reveals polyamine-dependent pausing of elongating ribosomes on a conserved Pro-Pro-Trp (PPW) motif in an inhibitory non-AUG-initiated upstream conserved coding region (uCC) of the antizyme inhibitor 1 (AZIN1) mRNA, encoding a regulator of cellular polyamine synthesis. Mutation of the PPW motif impairs initiation at the uCC's upstream near-cognate AUU start site and derepresses AZIN1 synthesis, whereas substitution of alternate elongation pause sequences restores uCC translation. Impairing ribosome loading reduces uCC translation and paradoxically derepresses AZIN1 synthesis. Finally, we identify the translation factor eIF5A as a sensor and effector for polyamine control of uCC translation. We propose that stalling of elongating ribosomes triggers queuing of scanning ribosomes and promotes initiation by positioning a ribosome near the start codon.

Demonstration of translation elongation factor 3 activity from a non-fungal species, Phytophthora infestans

In most eukaryotic organisms, translation elongation requires two highly conserved elongation factors eEF1A and eEF2. Fungal systems are unique in requiring a third factor, the eukaryotic Elongation Factor 3 (eEF3). For decades, eEF3, a ribosome-dependent ATPase, was considered "fungal-specific", however, recent bioinformatics analysis indicates it may be more widely distributed among other unicellular eukaryotes. In order to determine whether divergent eEF3-like proteins from other eukaryotic organisms can provide the essential functions of eEF3 in budding yeast, the eEF3-like proteins from Schizosaccharomyes pombe and an oomycete, Phytophthora infestans, were cloned and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Plasmid shuffling experiments showed that both S. pombe and P. infestans eEF3 can support the growth of S. cerevisiae in the absence of endogenous budding yeast eEF3. Consistent with its ability to provide the essential functions of eEF3, P. infestans eEF3 possessed ribosome-dependent ATPase activity. Yeast cells expressing P. infestans eEF3 displayed reduced protein synthesis due to defects in translation elongation/termination. Identification of eEF3 in divergent species will advance understanding of its function and the ribosome specific determinants that lead to its requirement as well as contribute to the identification of functional domains of eEF3 for potential drug discovery.

Extract of Syzygium aromaticum suppress eEF1A protein expression and fungal growth

AIMS

Clove extract has therapeutic potential as an antifungal drug, yet the mechanism of action remains ambiguous. Current study aimed to address the molecular process of the antifungal activity exerted by clove extract.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The antifungal assay results showed that clove extract had some effects on all of the tested yeast. Propidium iodide staining assay showed cell membrane damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae after treatment of clove extract for 30 h. Interestingly, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis assays revealed that the protein expression of eukaryotic elongation factor 1 alpha (eEF1A) was suppressed significantly after treatment with clove extract (not pure eugenol). Transcriptional analyses revealed that the TEF1 and TEF2 genes (translation elongation factor EF-1 alpha) encoding eEF1A were not disturbed with the addition of clove extract; however, the expression of related genes EFB1 (translation elongation factor 1 subunit beta), ENO2 (phosphopyruvate hydratase ENO2), GSP1 (Ran GTPase GSP1), RPP0 (ribosomal protein P0), YEF3 (translation elongation factor EF-3), TEF4 (translation elongation factor EF1B gamma), and RPS2 (ribosomal 40S subunit protein S2) increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that clove extract plays a role in disrupting growth and affecting yeast metabolism. eEF1A was affected by clove extract at the protein level but not at the transcriptional level.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study is based on a detailed study of antifungal action exerted by clove extract, and proposed that down-regulation of eEF1A protein expression may contribute to its antifungal activity. These results may have clinical significance for future application of clove extract as a natural antifungal agent.

Mechanism and Regulation of Protein Synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In this review, we provide an overview of protein synthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae The mechanism of protein synthesis is well conserved between yeast and other eukaryotes, and molecular genetic studies in budding yeast have provided critical insights into the fundamental process of translation as well as its regulation. The review focuses on the initiation and elongation phases of protein synthesis with descriptions of the roles of translation initiation and elongation factors that assist the ribosome in binding the messenger RNA (mRNA), selecting the start codon, and synthesizing the polypeptide. We also examine mechanisms of translational control highlighting the mRNA cap-binding proteins and the regulation of GCN4 and CPA1 mRNAs.

The molecular choreography of protein synthesis: translational control, regulation, and pathways

Translation of proteins by the ribosome regulates gene expression, with recent results underscoring the importance of translational control. Misregulation of translation underlies many diseases, including cancer and many genetic diseases. Decades of biochemical and structural studies have delineated many of the mechanistic details in prokaryotic translation, and sketched the outlines of eukaryotic translation. However, translation may not proceed linearly through a single mechanistic pathway, but likely involves multiple pathways and branchpoints. The stochastic nature of biological processes would allow different pathways to occur during translation that are biased by the interaction of the ribosome with other translation factors, with many of the steps kinetically controlled. These multiple pathways and branchpoints are potential regulatory nexus, allowing gene expression to be tuned at the translational level. As research focus shifts toward eukaryotic translation, certain themes will be echoed from studies on prokaryotic translation. This review provides a general overview of the dynamic data related to prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation, in particular recent findings with single-molecule methods, complemented by biochemical, kinetic, and structural findings. We will underscore the importance of viewing the process through the viewpoints of regulation, translational control, and heterogeneous pathways.

Mutations in the chromodomain-like insertion of translation elongation factor 3 compromise protein synthesis through reduced ATPase activity

Translation elongation is mediated by ribosomes and multiple soluble factors, many of which are conserved across bacteria and eukaryotes. During elongation, eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A; EF-Tu in bacteria) delivers aminoacylated-tRNA to the A-site of the ribosome, whereas eEF2 (EF-G in bacteria) translocates the ribosome along the mRNA. Fungal translation elongation is striking in its absolute requirement for a third factor, the ATPase eEF3. eEF3 binds close to the E-site of the ribosome and has been proposed to facilitate the removal of deacylated tRNA from the E-site. eEF3 has two ATP binding cassette (ABC) domains, the second of which carries a unique chromodomain-like insertion hypothesized to play a significant role in its binding to the ribosome. This model was tested in the current study using a mutational analysis of the Sac7d region of the chromodomain-like insertion. Specific mutations in this domain result in reduced growth rate as well as slower translation elongation. In vitro analysis demonstrates that these mutations do not affect the ability of eEF3 to interact with the ribosome. Kinetic analysis revealed a larger turnover number for ribosomes in comparison to eEF3, indicating that the partial reactions involving the ribosome are significantly faster than that of eEF3. Mutations in the chromodomain-like insertion severely compromise the ribosome stimulated ATPase of eEF3, strongly suggesting that it exerts an allosteric effect on the hydrolytic activity of eEF3. The chromodomain-like insertion is, therefore, vital to eEF3 function and may be targeted for developing novel antifungal drugs.

eIF5A promotes translation of polyproline motifs

Translation factor eIF5A, containing the unique amino acid hypusine, was originally shown to stimulate Met-puromycin synthesis, a model assay for peptide bond formation. More recently, eIF5A was shown to promote translation elongation; however, its precise requirement in protein synthesis remains elusive. We use in vivo assays in yeast and in vitro reconstituted translation assays to reveal a specific requirement for eIF5A to promote peptide bond formation between consecutive Pro residues. Addition of eIF5A relieves ribosomal stalling during translation of three consecutive Pro residues in vitro, and loss of eIF5A function impairs translation of polyproline-containing proteins in vivo. Hydroxyl radical probing experiments localized eIF5A near the E site of the ribosome with its hypusine residue adjacent to the acceptor stem of the P site tRNA. Thus, eIF5A, like its bacterial ortholog EFP, is proposed to stimulate the peptidyl transferase activity of the ribosome and facilitate the reactivity of poor substrates like Pro.

Differential proteomic analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus morphotypes reveals putative drug targets

Aspergillus fumigatus is the main etiological agent of invasive aspergillosis, an important opportunistic infection for neutropenic patients. The main risk groups are patients with acute leukemia and bone marrow transplantation recipients. The lack of an early diagnostic test together with the limited spectrum of antifungal drugs remains a setback to the successful treatment of this disease. During invasive infection the inhaled fungal conidia enter the morphogenic cycle leading to angioinvasive hyphae. This work aimed to study differentially expressed proteins of A. fumigatus during morphogenesis. To achieve this goal, a 2D-DIGE approach was applied to study surface proteins extractable by reducing agents of two A. fumigatus morphotypes: germlings and hyphae. Sixty-three differentially expressed proteins were identified by MALDI-ToF/MS. We observed that proteins associated with biosynthetic pathways and proteins with multiple functions (miscellaneous) were over-expressed in the early stages of germination, while in hyphae, the most abundant proteins detected were related to metabolic processes or have unknown functions. Among the most interesting proteins regulated during morphogenesis, two putative drug targets were identified, the translational factor, eEF3 and the CipC-like protein. Neither of these proteins are present in mammalian cells.

Methylation of translation-associated proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Identification of methylated lysines and their methyltransferases

This study aimed to identify sites of lysine methylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the associated methyltransferases. Hexapeptide ligand affinity chromatography was used to normalize the abundance levels of proteins in whole cell lysate. MS/MS, in association with antibody-based detection, was then used to identify lysine methylated proteins and the precise sites of modification. Lysine methylation was found on the proteins elongation factor (EF) 1-α, 2, and 3A, as well as ribosomal proteins 40S S18-A/B, 60S L11-A/B, L18-A/B, and L42-A/B. Precise sites were mapped in all cases. Single-gene knockouts of known and putative methyltransferase(s), in association with MS/MS, showed that EF1-α is monomethylated by Efm1 at lysin 30 and dimethylated by See1 at lysine 316. Methyltransferase Rkm1 was found to monomethylate 40S ribosomal protein S18-A/B at lysine 48. Knockout analysis also revealed that putative methyltransferase YBR271W affects the methylation of proteins EF2 and 3A; this was detected by Western blotting and immunodetection. This methyltransferase shows strong interspecies conservation and a tryptophan-containing motif associated with its active site. We suggest that enzyme YBR271W is named EF methyltransferase 2 (Efm2), in line with the recent naming of YHL039W as Efm1.

Overexpression of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 3 impairs Gcn2 protein activation

In eukaryotes, phosphorylation of translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) by the kinase Gcn2 (general control nonderepressible 2) is a key response to amino acid starvation. Sensing starvation requires that Gcn2 directly contacts its effector protein Gcn1, and both must contact the ribosome. We have proposed that Gcn2 is activated by uncharged tRNA bound to the ribosomal decoding (A) site, in a manner facilitated by ribosome-bound Gcn1. Protein synthesis requires cyclical association of eukaryotic elongation factors (eEFs) with the ribosome. Gcn1 and Gcn2 are large proteins, raising the question of whether translation and monitoring amino acid availability can occur on the same ribosome. Part of the ribosome-binding domain in Gcn1 has homology to one of the ribosome-binding domains in eEF3, suggesting that these proteins utilize overlapping binding sites on the ribosome and consequently cannot function simultaneously on the same ribosome. Supporting this idea, we found that eEF3 overexpression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae diminished growth on amino acid starvation medium (Gcn(-) phenotype) and decreased eIF2α phosphorylation, and that the growth defect associated with constitutively active Gcn2 was diminished by eEF3 overexpression. Overexpression of the eEF3 HEAT domain, or C terminus, was sufficient to confer a Gcn(-) phenotype, and both fragments have ribosome affinity. eEF3 overexpression did not significantly affect Gcn1-ribosome association, but it exacerbated the Gcn(-) phenotype of Gcn1-M7A that has reduced ribosome affinity. Together, this suggests that eEF3 blocks Gcn1 regulatory function on the ribosome. We propose that the Gcn1-Gcn2 complex only functions on ribosomes with A-site-bound uncharged tRNA, because eEF3 does not occupy these stalled complexes.

The elongation, termination, and recycling phases of translation in eukaryotes

This work summarizes our current understanding of the elongation and termination/recycling phases of eukaryotic protein synthesis. We focus here on recent advances in the field. In addition to an overview of translation elongation, we discuss unique aspects of eukaryotic translation elongation including eEF1 recycling, eEF2 modification, and eEF3 and eIF5A function. Likewise, we highlight the function of the eukaryotic release factors eRF1 and eRF3 in translation termination, and the functions of ABCE1/Rli1, the Dom34:Hbs1 complex, and Ligatin (eIF2D) in ribosome recycling. Finally, we present some of the key questions in translation elongation, termination, and recycling that remain to be answered.

Natural history of ABC systems: not only transporters

In recent years, our understanding of the functioning of ABC (ATP-binding cassette) systems has been boosted by the combination of biochemical and structural approaches. However, the origin and the distribution of ABC proteins among living organisms are difficult to understand in a phylogenetic perspective, because it is hard to discriminate orthology and paralogy, due to the existence of horizontal gene transfer. In this chapter, I present an update of the classification of ABC systems and discuss a hypothetical scenario of their evolution. The hypothetical presence of ABC ATPases in the last common ancestor of modern organisms is discussed, as well as the additional possibility that ABC systems might have been transmitted to eukaryotes, after the two endosymbiosis events that led to the constitution of eukaryotic organelles. I update the functional information of selected ABC systems and introduce new families of ABC proteins that have been included recently into this vast superfamily, thanks to the availability of high-resolution three-dimensional structures.

Insights into the role of yeast eIF2A in IRES-mediated translation

Eukaryotic initiation factor 2A is a single polypeptide that acts to negatively regulate IRES-mediated translation during normal cellular conditions. We have found that eIF2A (encoded by YGR054w) abundance is reduced at both the mRNA and protein level during 6% ethanol stress (or 37°C heat shock) under conditions that mimic the diauxic shift in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Furthermore, eIF2A protein is posttranslationally modified during ethanol stress. Unlike ethanol and heat shock stress, H₂O₂ and sorbitol treatment induce the loss of eIF2A mRNA, but not protein and without protein modification. To investigate the mechanism of eIF2A function we employed immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry and identified an interaction between eIF2A and eEF1A. The interaction between eIF2A and eEF1A increases during ethanol stress, which correlates with an increase in IRES-mediated translation from the URE2 IRES element. These data suggest that eIF2A acts as a switch to regulate IRES-mediated translation, and eEF1A may be an important mediator of translational activation during ethanol stress.

Unique modifications of translation elongation factors

Covalent modifications of proteins often modulate their biological functions or change their subcellular location. Among the many known protein modifications, three are exceptional in that they only occur on single proteins: ethanolamine phosphoglycerol, diphthamide and hypusine. Remarkably, the corresponding proteins carrying these modifications, elongation factor 1A, elongation factor 2 and initiation factor 5A, are all involved in elongation steps of translation. For diphthamide and, in part, hypusine, functional essentiality has been demonstrated, whereas no functional role has been reported so far for ethanolamine phosphoglycerol. We review the biosynthesis, attachment and physiological roles of these unique protein modifications and discuss common and separate features of the target proteins, which represent essential proteins in all organisms.

A structural domain mediates attachment of ethanolamine phosphoglycerol to eukaryotic elongation factor 1A in Trypanosoma brucei

Ethanolamine phosphoglycerol (EPG) represents a protein modification that so far has only been found in eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A). In mammals and plants, EPG is covalently attached to two conserved glutamate residues located in domains II and III of eEF1A. In contrast, Trypanosoma brucei eEF1A contains a single EPG attached to Glu362 in domain III. The sequence and/or structural requirements for covalent linkage of EPG to eEF1A have not been determined for any organism. Using a combination of biosynthetic labelling of parasites with tritiated ethanolamine and mass spectrometry analyses, we demonstrate that replacement of Glu362 in T. brucei eEF1A by site-directed mutagenesis prevents EPG attachment, whereas single or multiple amino acid substitutions around the attachment site are not critical. In addition, by expressing a series of eEF1A deletion mutants in T. brucei procyclic forms, we demonstrate that a peptide consisting of 80 amino acids of domain III of eEF1A is sufficient for EPG attachment to occur. Furthermore, EPG addition also occurs if domain III of eEF1A is fused to a soluble reporter protein. To our knowledge, this is the first report addressing amino acid sequence, or structure, requirements for EPG modification of eEF1A in any organism. Using T. brucei as a model organism, we show that amino acid substitutions around the modification site are not critical for EPG attachment and that a truncated version of domain III of eEF1A is sufficient to mediate EPG addition.

Stm1p alters the ribosome association of eukaryotic elongation factor 3 and affects translation elongation

Stm1p is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein that is primarily associated with cytosolic 80S ribosomes and polysomes. Several lines of evidence suggest that Stm1p plays a role in translation under nutrient stress conditions, although its mechanism of action is not yet known. In this study, we show that yeast lacking Stm1p (stm1Delta) are hypersensitive to the translation inhibitor anisomycin, which affects the peptidyl transferase reaction in translation elongation, but show little hypersensitivity to other translation inhibitors such as paromomycin and hygromycin B, which affect translation fidelity. Ribosomes isolated from stm1Delta yeast have intrinsically elevated levels of eukaryotic elongation factor 3 (eEF3) associated with them. Overexpression of eEF3 in cells lacking Stm1p results in a growth defect phenotype and increased anisomycin sensitivity. In addition, ribosomes with increased levels of Stm1p exhibit decreased association with eEF3. Taken together, our data indicate that Stm1p plays a complementary role to eEF3 in translation.

Translation elongation factor 1A is a component of the tombusvirus replicase complex and affects the stability of the p33 replication co-factor

Host RNA-binding proteins are likely to play multiple, integral roles during replication of plus-strand RNA viruses. To identify host proteins that bind to viral RNAs, we took a global approach based on the yeast proteome microarray, which contains 4080 purified yeast proteins. The biotin-labeled RNA probes included two distantly related RNA viruses, namely Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) and Brome mosaic virus (BMV). Altogether, we have identified 57 yeast proteins that bound to TBSV RNA and/or BMV RNA. Among the identified host proteins, eleven bound to TBSV RNA and seven bound to BMV RNA with high selectivity, whereas the remaining 39 host proteins bound to both viral RNAs. The interaction between the TBSV replicon RNA and five of the identified host proteins was confirmed via gel-mobility shift and co-purification experiments from yeast. Over-expression of the host proteins in yeast, a model host for TBSV, revealed 4 host proteins that enhanced TBSV replication as well as 14 proteins that inhibited replication. Detailed analysis of one of the identified yeast proteins binding to TBSV RNA, namely translation elongation factor eEF1A, revealed that it is present in the highly purified tombusvirus replicase complex. We also demonstrate binding of eEF1A to the p33 replication protein and a known cis-acting element at the 3' end of TBSV RNA. Using a functional mutant of eEF1A, we provide evidence on the involvement of eEF1A in TBSV replication.

Multiple molecular dynamics simulation of the isoforms of human translation elongation factor 1A reveals reversible fluctuations between "open" and "closed" conformations and suggests specific for eEF1A1 affinity for Ca2+-calmodulin

BACKGROUND

Eukaryotic translation elongation factor eEF1A directs the correct aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomal A-site. In addition, eEF1A is involved in carcinogenesis and apoptosis and can interact with large number of non-translational ligands. There are two isoforms of eEF1A, which are 98% similar. Despite the strong similarity, the isoforms differ in some properties. Importantly, the appearance of eEF1A2 in tissues in which the variant is not normally expressed can be coupled to cancer development.We reasoned that the background for the functional difference of eEF1A1 and eEF1A2 might lie in changes of dynamics of the isoforms.

RESULTS

It has been determined by multiple MD simulation that eEF1A1 shows increased reciprocal flexibility of structural domains I and II and less average distance between the domains, while increased non-correlated diffusive atom motions within protein domains characterize eEF1A2. The divergence in the dynamic properties of eEF1A1 and eEF1A2 is caused by interactions of amino acid residues that differ between the two variants with neighboring residues and water environment. The main correlated motion of both protein isoforms is the change in proximity of domains I and II which can lead to disappearance of the gap between the domains and transition of the protein into a "closed" conformation. Such a transition is reversible and the protein can adopt an "open" conformation again. This finding is in line with our earlier experimental observation that the transition between "open" and "closed" conformations of eEF1A could be essential for binding of tRNA and/or other biological ligands. The putative calmodulin-binding region Asn311-Gly327 is less flexible in eEF1A1 implying its increased affinity for calmodulin. The ability of eEF1A1 rather than eEF1A2 to interact with Ca2+/calmodulin is shown experimentally in an ELISA-based test.

CONCLUSION

We have found that reversible transitions between "open" and "close" conformations of eEF1A provide a molecular background for the earlier observation that the eEF1A molecule is able to change the shape upon interaction with tRNA. The ability of eEF1A1 rather than eEF1A2 to interact with calmodulin is predicted by MD analysis and showed experimentally. The differential ability of the eEF1A isoforms to interact with signaling molecules discovered in this study could be associated with cancer-related properties of eEF1A2.

Roles of the negatively charged N-terminal extension of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosomal protein S5 revealed by characterization of a yeast strain containing human ribosomal protein S5

Ribosomal protein (rp) S5 belongs to a family of ribosomal proteins that includes bacterial rpS7. rpS5 forms part of the exit (E) site on the 40S ribosomal subunit and is essential for yeast viability. Human rpS5 is 67% identical and 79% similar to Saccharomyces cerevisiae rpS5 but lacks a negatively charged (pI approximately 3.27) 21 amino acid long N-terminal extension that is present in fungi. Here we report that replacement of yeast rpS5 with its human homolog yielded a viable yeast strain with a 20%-25% decrease in growth rate. This replacement also resulted in a moderate increase in the heavy polyribosomal components in the mutant strain, suggesting either translation elongation or termination defects, and in a reduction in the polyribosomal association of the elongation factors eEF3 and eEF1A. In addition, the mutant strain was characterized by moderate increases in +1 and -1 programmed frameshifting and hyperaccurate recognition of the UAA stop codon. The activities of the cricket paralysis virus (CrPV) IRES and two mammalian cellular IRESs (CAT-1 and SNAT-2) were also increased in the mutant strain. Consistently, the rpS5 replacement led to enhanced direct interaction between the CrPV IRES and the mutant yeast ribosomes. Taken together, these data indicate that rpS5 plays an important role in maintaining the accuracy of translation in eukaryotes and suggest that the negatively charged N-terminal extension of yeast rpS5 might affect the ribosomal recruitment of specific mRNAs.